A female student of Pen Resource Academy in Gombe State, Maryam Olufunmilayo Ogunbayo has been declared the “Overall Best Young Nigerian Scientist of the Year,” in the 2022 Edition of Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (774YONPA).
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu presented the award certificate to her on Monday during the 774YONPA award ceremony held in Abuja.
The Minister also presented award certificates to other successful students; Gbolahan Azeem Ayinde of African Church Grammar School in Ogun State who came second and Uchendu Mmesomachukwu Judith of UNIBEN Demonstration Secondary school in Edo State came third.
According to him the scholarship also targets young Nigerians and is aimed at motivating them towards careers in the Science, Technology and Innovation field
He disclosed that the scholarship to the three secondary school students who emerged winners at this year’s Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award Competition (774 YONSPA) is up to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) level.
“The scholarship is in any science-related discipline of their choice at any university in the country.“
Dr Onu encouraged the victorious students to continue working hard to make Nigeria proud.
He urged the students to strive to be the first Nigerian Nobel laureates in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Edet Akpan said that the Ministry would follow up on the progress of the students, especially as they have bagged a scholarship to PhD level.
He encouraged the students to be Ambassadors of Nigeria especially in the areas of the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and used the opportunity to invite them to the 2022 edition of Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2022, scheduled to hold between March 14th –Friday 18th 2022.
In all, twenty-three (23) out of the thirty-six (36) States of the federation participated in this year’s competition.
PIAK
