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By Chinyere Anyanwu
• Prof. Ogundipe (right) and Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa (left) presenting cheque to LASU team
The need to employ disruptive innovation in solving Nigeria’s numerous challenges has been highlighted by one of the nation’s university dons and the acting Director, National Information Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa.
Odumuyiwa made the submission recently while delivering a lecture during the second edition of the Professor Ogundipe Innovative Challenge (POIC) 2.0 held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
This is even as four teams emerged winners out of the over 1,000 teams that pitched in the competition organised by the POIC, which centered on scientific inventions aimed at bringing solutions to identified problems.
Speaking on the theme, “Empowering the Future: Unleashing the Potential of Gen-Z for Disruptive Innovation”, Dr. Odumuyiwa said the first step to solving any problem is acknowledging it’s existence.
Defining disruptive innovation as “changing existing markets by introducing breakthrough products, services or business models; destroying the norms and creating a new thing”, he said, “there’s a problem and we need to begin to think if we really want a solution.”
He explained that, “the starting point for solution is acknowledging there’s a problem, accepting it and working for a solution. Innovation can help us move forward as a nation and drive the economic growth we want.”
Stating reasons why Nigeria needs disruptive innovation, Odumuyiwa said the economic growth; global competitiveness, national security and resource efficiency the country is striving for can only come through it.
He explained that to achieve this, a lot depends on the Gen-zers (Generation Z) owing to their “digital dexterity, their ability to push the boundaries, their entrepreneurial drive, and their ability to create new business models.”
He, therefore, appealed to them to be patient and to pursue strategic partnerships and collaborations, sustainability as well as identify platforms of opportunities.
The NITDA director urged government to provide favourable regulation, access to capital and a culture that fosters entrepreneurship for the Gen-zers.
He also urged the university community to adopt “the rainforest approach to innovation” and to provide disruptive education.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, lamented the dearth of jobs in the country and challenged the youths to begin to think outside the box.
She said, “70 per cent of our population are youths. One thing we do not have in large supply is a job-creating organ. The future can only happen by creating new jobs, creating new enterprises, creating new vistas for people to conquer.”
She assured that, “at the University of Lagos, we are working intentionally to produce those who will create jobs and we are focused on ensuring that innovation happens, which means we are forcing minds to think.
“I urge all the young people to think outside the box. Think about how to make Nigeria the best in the world, and that can only happen by harnessing your minds and looking for solutions to problems.”
Earlier in his address, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, a former UNILAG VC and convener of the POIC, applauded the Faculty of Science students for birthing the idea of the innovation challenge.
He said, “we are talking about innovation to make our students able to compete locally and internationally.”
He pledged his commitment to ensuring the development and progress of UNILAG.
Part of the highlights of the programme includes the presentation of honorary awards to Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa in appreciation of what he is doing for the university and for Nigerian students in general, and to Kola Adesina in appreciation of his contributions to Nigeria and for giving back to the university community.
Prizes were also presented to winners of the POIC 2.0, who pitched various scientific inventions.
The first position was clinched by Team Neptune from UNILAG, which pitched a cost-effective emergency ventilator. The team went home with the sum of N1 million.
The second position went to Team Horizon from Lagos State University (LASU), which pitched a technological device that will help smallholder farmers get higher yield. The team got N750, 000.
Team Illusence came third with a good processing method that will boost feed production for livestock. The team went home with N500, 000.
The fourth position went to Team Free from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). It pitched a hand-sanitising device. It got N400, 000 as prize money.
