As part of its efforts at fostering innovation and solutions generation across Nigerian universities, the foremost innovation company, Opolo Global has organized another pitch idea to mark the inaugural lecture of Prof. Sunday Samuel Oluyamo, a professor of Condensed Matter Physics who also doubles as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development), Federal University of Technology, Akure. Oluyamo presented the 156th Inaugural Lecture of the university.
The pitch, which was a pre-inaugural lecture event, was themed Leveraging Condensed Matter Physics for Innovation and Sustainable Development. It featured 4 students presenting their ideas to a panel of judges made up of Prof. I.O. Ojo; Dr. I.A Olusola and Dr. Adesola Ikudayisi who represented Opolo Global Innovation at the event.
In his opening remark at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Adenike Oladiji, respreented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof T.T Amos, first appreciated the commitment of the Opolo Global concept of innovation programmes at the university level. He then emphasized that university-based partnerships for innovation are mostly needed for national development. In his own speech, the Director of Tech-Pic, Prof. O.O. Olubanjo also appreciated Opolo Global for honouring Prof. Oluyamo with the idea competition. He reiterated that the economy cannot be virile without innovation. The Head, Department of Physics, Prof. E.O Ogolo also thanked Opolo for the beautiful idea identifying the place of innovation in condensed matter physics to solve societal problems.
Before the commencement of the pitching competition, the representative of Opolo Global, Dr. Ikudayisi Adesola, addressed the gathering on the values that Opolo Global stands for. She noted that Opolo is a social enterprise that interested in incubation, acceleration and development of worthwhile ideas and research outcomes that could provide solutions to local, national and global problems.
The four contestants- Akinboyewa Lawrence, Imafidon Elia, Hassan Shalom, and Adelaja Ebenezer- were selected across levels in the Department. The overall winner, Imafidon Elia, showcased innovation in the energy sector through emerging technologies driven by condensed matter physics for thin film solar panels while the first runners up, Adelaja Ebenezer presented a semi-automated door using RFID for the prevention and control of diseases. The second-runners up, Hassan Shalom, dived into the role of condensed matter physics in climate change mitigation through the development of sustainable technology, such as carbon capture and storage, which could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
While thanking Opolo Global for the event organized to mark his inaugural lecture, Prof Sunday Oluyamo noted that there is a place for innovation across tiers of learning and that the Opolo initiative must be embraced to drive national development and academic excellence.
The programme was brought to a close with the presentation of prizes to the participants as well as the Opolo’s gift to Prof. Oluyamo presented by Dr. Adesola Ikudayisi, on behalf of the Chairman, Dr. Segun Aina.
PHOTO GALLERY:
L-R Prof S.S. Oluyamo DVCD, FUTA and Prof T.T. Amos(DVCA, FUTA)
