Education
Unilag Patents 11 Inventions in 18 Months
The University of Lagos said it successfully patented 11 inventions in the last 18 months, with three of them being prototyped.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
Ogundipe spoke about the developmental strides in the university especially in the area of research, and the successes recorded by his administration of two years.
Ogundipe was sworn in as the 12th Vice Chancellor of university in 2017 and recently celebrated two years in office on November 12, told NAN that the administration had attracted research grants of over N7 billion.
According to the professor of Botany, the institution’s Innovation Unit recently received patent certificates for six inventions submitted for patenting in February.
He said that the inventions included a Unique Improved Selected Fishing Traps by scholars of the Department of Marine Science of the university, with two others from the Nigeria Institute Of Oceanography and Marine Research.
The patent application number for the innovation is NG/P/2019/00098.
The don further listed the other inventions to include Solar Power Neonate Phototherapy Device Station by scholars of the Departments of Physics and Paedraitrics, College of Medicine of the university, with patent application number NG/P/2019/000099.
An Epoxy Particulate Hybrid Nanocomposite for Automobile Bumper Application, with patent application number NG/P/2019/000100 by scholars of the Dept of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering is one of the inventions.
Also, Road Vehicle Black Box Security Surveillance System, with patent application number 000101 also by scholars of the Department of Physics of the university, is among the inventions.
Equally patented is a Thick Dual-Slot Antenna for Microwave Ablation of Breast Tumour, by scholars in the College of Medicine of the institution. It has patent application number NG/P/2919/000103 among.“Our programmes for research grants are some of those things that we are very excited about.
“University is about research grants and Unilag is about research. We are research-oriented; therefore, we are positive that what we are working on now will definitely have impact on the system, and the nation will benefit from it.“We just had a formal presentation of the Fourth Research Grants/Award of the Professor Ayo Ogunye Chair in Chemical Engineering put together by the Professor Ayo Francis Ogunye Trust Foundation of the University of Lagos.
“It is intended to support PhD students of the institution to carry out research work as well as make it easy for the research work to be well-funded.“The university is elated at the development because the foundation has done this, four times, with our PhD students winning it thrice.“We have listed some of our efforts in research already, one of it, the Solar Power Neonate Phototherapy Device Station, and other innovation ideas are even going to be exhibited at the Lagos State Innovation programme coming up on Dec. 5.
“We are indeed happy,” Ogundipe said.According to him, the outgoing year has been wonderful for the university in the area of research, innovation and entrepreneurship.“What we also want to say is that we still have a lot of grounds to break as far as research is concerned in the university.“We have a higher ground that we are moving to,” he said.
The vice chancellor said that his projection for the institution for 2020 would be to make it more visible globally.“We also want to be celebrated more in the area of ground-breaking research works, innovation, entrepreneurship and setting up businesses for our students.“We also want Unilag to be known for its academic programmes and in its students ability to compete globally.“More importantly, we want it to be known as a university that is showing forth the light,” Ogundipe told NAN.
Prof. Ayo Ogunye, a former lecturer in the university, said that research output determined a university’s position in the world university ranking. He urged Ogundipe not to relent in his determination to push for scholarship.
“I want Unilag to be number one, and we are lucky to have the kind of vice chancellor we have now who has passion for scholarship.“We must support our scholars in the area of research.“So far, a total of 45 scholars have benefited from the Research Grants/Award of the Professor Ayo Ogunye Chair in Chemical Engineering“For us, it is a way of giving back to the university that made me what I am today. The research grant of N1.5 million started about four years ago but before then, we were giving prizes.“When we do this, we feel satisfied because, it is investing in human capacity development and as well placing the system on the right path.“We must always be willing to extend a hand of fellowship for good courses and for the sake of posterity,” he said.
Ogunye, a Professor of Chemical Engineering, facilitated the setting up of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Lagos.He was appointed Head of the Department at age 31. (NAN)
Education
Special College of Education, Gombe Establishment Bill Scales 1st Reading
A Bill for an Act to amend the Federal Colleges of Education, 2003 and to establish the Federal College of Education, Special in Dukku Gombe State has scaled first reading in the House of Representatives.
The Bill was sponsored by Rep. Abdullahi El-rasheed (APC-Gombe) and read during the plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said that the establishment of the school in Dukku Federal Constituency would help to actualise the aspirations of youths especially the physically challeged in the area.
He added that the establishment of the school would make it the second of its kind in the country.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas put it to vote and was unanimously adopted by the House and passed for first reading.
(NAN)Education
University Don Unveils Mathematical Discovery on ‘Count of Odd Composites up to Natural Number’
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi Lecturer, Dr Michael Vershima Atovigba, an Associate Professor on Wednesday, at the university’s Science and Mathematics Education Laboratory, demonstrated his findings for the determination of all odd composites up to a natural number, N.
The work is titled: Odd Composites Algorithm and the K-C Prime Number Equation: An Equation of Total Count of Primes under or up to a Natural Number, N.Atovigba is famous for his works on Riemann Hypothesis, which was listed in 2001 by the Clay Mathematics Institute, New Jersey, as one of the seven millennium problems, George Akume Precision Equation, a second degree polynomial precision equation useful in economic theory in terms of budgeting and efficient allocation of resources, use of geometry to prove the probability theorem, which stopped the global campaign by America’s Prof.
Gabriel Oyibo, to expunge probability from the world university curriculum.Concerned that prime counting functions are approximations rather than precise algorithms that lead to precise counts of total number of primes up to a natural number, Dr. Atovigba says he devoted 15 years, “to search out for more algorithms that might provide with greater precision the total number of primes up to a given natural number.”
His focus therefore, was to establish “a prime number equation which provides total count of primes up to or under a given natural number,” the breakthrough he demonstrated today. The results of his “study have sequence of odd numbers leading to the sequence of odd composites divisible by one or more primes thus further leading to removal of all odd composites divisible by the primes under or up to a natural number, which leaves total number of primes under or up to that natural number.”
Dr. Atovigba’s Theorem, known as Odd Composites Algorithm states that
C = Sum of (P1) – Sum of (P1,P2) + Sum of (P1,P2,P3) – …
Where
C means algorithm of odd composites
(P1) Means cardinality or count of odd composites divisible by P1 under N (given natural number)
(P1,P2) Means cardinality of odd composites divisible by both P1 and P2
(P1,P2,P3) Means cardinality of odd composites divisible by P1,P2,P3 etc. provided that the product (P1P2P3) etc is less than or equal to N.
In arriving at the equation, Don Atovigba made use of the inclusion-exclusion principle as a method of his study. “The study retains the original prime number equation Eta=K-C (Atovigba, 2014), where K is total number of odd numbers and C, algorithm of odd composites up to a natural number.
His conclusion is that the study has successfully come up with the algorithm for total count of odd composites up to a Natural Number, N, with a computer programme, set for an automation of total count of odd composites, hence total number of primes up to a natural number, using Eta= K-C.
Dr. Atovigba, therefore, recommends that the odd composites algorithm of this study along with the prime number equation should be accepted as platonic objects in number theory, and adopted by schools and universities globally.
“By Platonic object it is meant, the object has all along being in existence and can only be discovered,” he concludes.
Prior to the breakthrough, Dr. Atovigba, in 2014, proposed the prime number equation (Eta= K-C), to the effect that the total number of primes under or up to a natural number is the difference between count of odd numbers and count of odd composites.
Professor Iormem Kyereve, who chaired the session described it as interesting, especially that primes are useful for rhe determination of the “power of computers.”
While congratulating Dr. Atovigba on the record, Prof Omenka Jerry, Head, Department of Science and Mathematics Education said the work is significant to the advancement of numerical analysis and number theory.
In his words of encouragement, Dr. Alfred Tyav of the Department of Industrial Technology, noted that great men (like Dr. Atovigba) may not be recognised when alive but when they are no more, they are honoured through their works because they have their names written in books of history.
For details of the work, contact Dr. Michael Vershima Atovigba: mikeatovigba@gmail.com. matovigba@bsum.org.edu
Education
Bayelsa Education Trust Fund Kicks Off Robotics Challenge for Schools
The Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund on Tuesday commenced a 60- day Robotics Challenge among secondary schools across the eight local government areas of the state.
Coding is an essential set of instructions that a robot can read and execute. Robotics combines the use of electronics, mechanics, and coding software to programme robots to do particular jobs.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Gentle Emelah, Commissioner for Education, said the state had been investing in technology across levels of education.
According to him, the robotics and coding challenge is part of the plans to deepen technology and innovation among the youth.
Emelah revealed that the state had fully integrated digital learning platforms for all public primary schools in four of the eight local government areas in Bayelsa.
In her remarks, Dr Alice Atuwo, Executive Secretary of the fund, recalled that robotics and coding was introduced in 2022 to 13 selected Model Secondary schools.
Atuwo said that 103 students participated in the holiday training that lasted for 30 days.
She said that the fund had fully equipped the model secondary schools with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) gadgets.
Atuwo, said all the model secondary schools received monthly support of N50,000 to provide internet connection, consumables and minor maintainable to keep the robotics programmes running.
“The robotics and coding programme is a component of the Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) policy that the fund is promoting in Bayelsa to make our students ready for the future.
“For those who may ask the question, why robotics, The answer is why not robotics.
“Robotics brings abstract knowledge to realities and our children can understand how robots can be deployed to accomplish tasks and provide solutions to everyday challenges,” Atuwo said.
She explained that the students would undergo trainings in robotics and coding, build and programme their robots to tackle issues of climate change.
Also speaking, Prof Francis Sikoki, Chairman of the Trust’s Board, said that technology skills in areas like robotics was essential in today’s digital world driven by knowledge and innovation.
He said that the educational development trust was toward ensuring the provision of science labour stories in all secondary schools in the state.
Also, Mrs Stellar Uzochukwu, a representative of Odyssey Educational Foundation, facilitators of the Bayelsa 2024 Robotics Challenge, auded Bayelsa government for supporting the programme.
She said that the programme would enable the youths to leverage on the knowledge acquire in coding and robotics to tackle the challenges posed by climate change in the state.(NAN)