Renowned engineer and former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, has launched an innovation challenge aimed at developing a safer method of harvesting palm wine without climbing trees.
The initiative, unveiled as part of activities marking his 70th birthday celebration in Enugu, seeks practical engineering solutions to reduce the dangers associated with traditional palm wine tapping, a practice that has claimed lives and is gradually disappearing.
The Bart Nnaji Innovation Challenge attracted 393 entries from engineers and innovators across Nigeria. At the award ceremony, Anthony Mbadiwe and Stephen Awotundun emerged joint winners, sharing the ₦10 million grand prize, while Favour Ojowundu received the ₦2 million runner-up prize.
Professor Nnaji said the competition was inspired by the need to transform the age-old practice of palm wine tapping into a safer, smarter and more sustainable enterprise through innovation and technology.
The event was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and attended by several prominent Nigerians, including the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu and Alex Otti of Abia, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, as well as leaders from academia, business and industry.
Speaking at the event, Nnaji stressed the need for Nigeria to embrace innovation in solving everyday challenges, noting that scientific thinking and practical solutions remain key to national development.
The former minister, who pioneered the Aba Integrated Power Project, said the same spirit of innovation that transformed power supply in Aba should be applied to addressing local challenges capable of creating economic opportunities and improving livelihoods.
