The advisory board of the Nigeria Prize for Science proudly announced the winner of the 2023 edition, recognising the remarkable achievements of Professor Hippolite Amadi for his pioneering project titled “Respiratory Technologies for Keeping Nigerian New-Born Babies Alive.” This groundbreaking work has earned Prof. Amadi the esteemed Nigeria LNG Ltd. (NLNG) $100,000 prize.
Prof. Barth Nnaji, the Chair of the Prize’s Advisory Board, made the announcement at a press conference that NLNG organised in Lagos. The judges’ decision was rooted in the 2023 theme, “Innovation for Enhancement of Healthcare Therapy.”
Prof. Nnaji praised Prof. Amadi’s contributions to neonatal care in Nigeria, highlighting not only advancements in this critical field but also improved access and reduced costs. Prof. Amadi’s work achieved this by causing a reduction in the market prices of competing and existing neonatal care devices.
The winning project featured three groundbreaking technological innovations designed to save the lives of neonates by making the delivery of oxygen more affordable and accessible:
- Non-invasive Neonatal Ventilator: Known as the Bubble Polite, this invention facilitates continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation for very low-birth-weight neonates. It serves as a feasible alternative to the improvised bubble CPAP (IBCPAP) in cost-constrained settings.
- Oxygen Delivery Blender System: This innovation ensures the safe delivery of oxygen without the risk of toxicity.
- Oxygen Splitter System: This system allows the shared use of a single oxygen source among multiple neonates when piped oxygen is unavailable. Remarkably, these devices are powered by solar energy.
Prof. Nnaji mentioned that healthcare professionals in Nigeria had rigorously tested these devices, and reports showed that the PoliteCPAP innovation not only provided simultaneous access to ventilators and oxygen delivery but also significantly reduced costs. The cost was reduced from N6.5 million to N750,000 when compared to existing devices with comparable and better efficiency.
Prof. Amadi’s extensive career, spanning over three decades since 1987, encompasses various fields, including engineering-in-healthcare, orthopaedics, and neonatology research. His academic career at Imperial College London, where he first studied and later worked as a staff member and professor, had a significant impact on his global recognition as a key contributor to neonatal medical innovations.
Throughout his academic and professional journey, Prof. Amadi achieved remarkable milestones, including mathematical modelling related to human proximal humerus, innovations in neonatal incubator technology, the discovery of tropical Evening Fever Syndrome (EFS), and the development of innovative medical procedures and devices.
In recognition of his significant contributions, Prof. Amadi was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM) and currently holds a position at Imperial College London focusing on Frugal Medical Technology for low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, he serves as the PRINCIPAL consultant at the Neonatal Concerns for Africa charity organisation, further underscoring his commitment to improving neonatal care in Africa.
Mr. Andy Odeh, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, emphasised the power of collaboration between the private sector, academia, and the broader scientific community, emphasising the need for collective responsibility in nurturing and supporting innovative solutions.
Odeh’s description of NLNG’s vision centres on “helping to build a better Nigeria,” where ground-breaking ideas flourish and every life is treasured and protected. This recognition of Prof. Amadi’s pioneering respiratory technology reaffirms the importance of innovation in enhancing healthcare therapy and securing the futures of newborns.
NLNG’s mission also underscores the priority of saving lives in scientific pursuits, aligning seamlessly with Prof. Amadi’s tireless efforts to transform neonatal healthcare through groundbreaking medical technology.
A panel of judges presided over by Professor Joseph Ahaneku of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, decided to award Prof. Amadi the Nigeria Prize for Science. Other panel members included Professor Olaitan Alice Soyannwo of the University of Ibadan and Professor Abdullahi Abba of Ahmadu Bello University.
The Prize’s Advisory Board, chaired by Prof. Nnaji, includes distinguished members such as Chief Dr. Nike Akande, a two-time minister and former President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Yusuf Abubakar, a professor of Animal Breeding and Quantitative Genetics.
Prof. Amadi’s remarkable contributions to neonatal healthcare and medical technology have earned him this prestigious accolade, solidifying his legacy as a trailblazer in the field of neonatology.
