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Dot Learn Wins $25,000 Edtech Prize [2018]

Dot Learn, an online video e-learning company located in Nigeria, has won $25,000 Edtech Prize in the ‘Next Billion’ Edtech Prize launched by The Varkey Foundation to recognise the most innovative technology destined to have a radical impact on education in low income and emerging world countries.

Nigerian-based Dot Learn, emerged a runner-up, which makes online video e-learning accessible on slow, expensive internet connections for users in low-income countries. TeachMeNow, also a runner-up, is a marketplace that connects teachers, experts, and mentors based in the UAE.

Dot Learn, co-founded by Tunde Alawode, Sam Bhattacharyya and Thomas Richmann, was among the three winners awarded $25,000 as well as the unique opportunity to pilot their technology in partner schools in Western Cape, South Africa.

According to the CEO and Co-founder of Dot Learn, Sam Bhattacharyya:

“We are very strong believers that education technology is the future and that more students when they see online video, they will be more prone to study online because learning now is about technology.”

The inaugural ‘Next Billion’ Edtech Prize was won by Chatterbox; an online solution – online language school, which gives refugees the chance to work both online and in-person as language tutors.

The prize is worth £18,900 and the winner gets an opportunity to pilot their technology in partner schools in Western Cape, South Africa.

The £18,900 prize will go towards Chatterbox’s target of reaching £350,000, which will help it expand its network beyond the UK to other countries with large refugee populations for whom there are few economic opportunities.

Michael Friday Invents ‘Mobile Intercom’ [2018]

Engineer Michael Friday, has come up with an invention called Mobile Intercom aimed at relieving subscribers of telecommunications services of the need to buy recharge cards.

According to Michael Friday on Mobile Intercom:

“The source of Internet we depend on is in foreign hands. Even our telecommunications companies depend on them. If you want to manufacture a mobile phone, until you buy the operating system chips and insert it on your system, it can never access any of these technologies.

WIFI and Bluetooth are minute ICs embedded in the PCV that makes them work.

Why don’t we have such a thing here? It is because there is no backing. Late last year, I came up with an application. I was at a function and the moment a bigwig came in, all mobile phones stopped working. And I said to myself, ‘If there is any security issue here, now, everybody is doomed.’

So, I coded an application that I can use to make calls, send SMS, do video calls and all of that without mobile spectrum, without Internet or network. We have completed it and it is working. Our chip sets can transmit up to 5000 metres, that is about 5 kilometres.”

Friday is a global award winner for developing the smallest storage micro chips in 2009, at a science competition in China. He emerged the overall best scientist in 2009.

He is also a two-time award winner of the most outstanding youth in Nigeria in 2009 and 2011.

Emmanuel Chuwang Wins 2018 NASCO Cycling Awareness Competition

Emmanuel Chuwang, an amateur cyclist in Jos, ran 9.6 kilometers in 14 minutes to emerge winner of the 2018 NASCO Cycling Awareness competition, which took off from Old Airport Junction, Jos and terminated at New Zaria Road Stadium.

The Cycling Awareness competition is sponsored by NASCO Group Nigeria Ltd.

On his victory, Emmanuel Chuwang declared:

“God is the giver of strength of mind and body; I dedicate this victory to him.”

Victor Lapang, Plateau Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, said that the state government was passionate about promoting sports because it was crucial to peace, progress and development.

In the words of Victor Lapang:

“We are going to look into hockey, basketball, cycling and many other sports.

Cycling has been known as a major form of exercise; I am really delighted to see the kind of people who have come out because they constitute of both the old and the young.

For the young ones, you can aspire to take it as a profession and work hard for a better future ahead.

For the old ones, we cannot over emphasize the issue of body fitness. If you keep doing this, you can live a longer life.”

The commissioner commended NASCO group of companies for proving to be pacesetters by sponsorship the programme, and urged other multinational corporations in the state to emulate that.

Lapang also lauded Plateau Amateur Cycling Association, for partnering with NASCO to ensure the success of the competition.

Haroun Audu, NASCO Group’s Marketing Communication Advisor, said that the cycling awareness campaign was aimed at reviving and strengthening public interest and participation in cycling.

In the words of Haroun Audu:

“This effort by NASCO Group signals a deliberate intervention to support committed amateur cyclists in Plateau.”

4 UNILAG Students Win 2018 Coca-Cola Global Management Challenge

A team of four students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has emerged winners of the maiden edition of the Coca-Cola Global Management Challenge after six weeks of intense competition.

The team made up of final year UNILAG students include: Abdullahi Salimat, Department of Finance; Adeniyi Talabi, Department of Systems Engineering; Oyekan Idris, Department of Accounting and Olubodun Sulaiman, Department of Business Administration came tops in the competition for their innovative business solutions.

They will represent Nigeria for the first time at the international finale coming up in Dubai, in April, 2018.

Continue reading 4 UNILAG Students Win 2018 Coca-Cola Global Management Challenge

Winners Of National Science, Technology And Innovation Expo 2018 [Abuja]

Winners have emerged in the National Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2018, which held from March 5-9, 2018, with the theme “Fast-tracking sustainable development of Nigeria through science and technology”.

Continue reading Winners Of National Science, Technology And Innovation Expo 2018 [Abuja]

Professor Albert Olayemi Makes Scientific Research Breakthrough On Aviation Fuel

Professor of Microbiology, Albert Olayemi at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has made a scientific breakthrough in the microbiological analysis of aviation fuel and fuel handling systems.

According to the University of Ilorin’s latest Bulletin, the research entitled: “Microbial Contamination of JetFuel and Fuel Handling Systems”, was commissioned and sponsored by CITA Petroleum Ltd., based in Lagos.

The publication explained that the breakthrough research would enhance the quality of fuel supply to the nation’s aviation sector.

As stated in the bulletin

“The first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, Prof. Olayemi’s research was recently published on Amazon and is garnering intense critical acclaim in national and international media.

As a result of the research’s pioneering status and the potential to has a lasting impact on the global aviation industry.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has specially invited Prof. Olayemi to make a presentation at the forthcoming Aviation Systems Management Symposium, being hosted by IATA in Miami, Florida, U.S. between April 15 and April 20.’’

The publication explained that the study urged quality control agencies to intensify monitoring to enhance quality of supply to the aviation industry. It said that the research would help incorporate microbiological standards into the specification requirements of Jet A1/allied products.

According to the bulletin, microbial are micro-organisms like bacteria and fungi that are capable of existing in water where it interfaces with fuel. It said these microorganisms use alkanes and additives in fuel as foodstuff. According to it, the most destructive of the microbes that grows in the aircraft fuel environment is the fungus Hormoconis resinae.

The bulletin stated:

“This is the most common cause of microbial corrosion in aircraft fuel tanks.

At the presentation of the study report, Albert Olayemi commended the management of CITA Petroleum for compliance with the numerous industry and company’s proprietary Policies, Standards and Procedure (PSP) covering the entire supply storage and distribution chain.

Albert Olayemi, who lectures at the university’s Department of Microbiology, said contaminated fuel was one of the causes of equipment failure. He added that it was the second leading cause of plane crashes globally after pilot errors.

The expert said the first of such study in Nigeria was aimed at assessing microbial contamination of aviation fuel and fuel handling system at CITA Petroleum Tank Farms located in Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja.