On Monday, October 23, 2023, as part of fulfilling its obligations, for DLI 5.3 (Entrepreneurship), ACE-CEFOR in partnership with the Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) and the Entrepreneurial Centre, all in the University of Port Harcourt, kicked off a week-long University wide 2023 Innovation Week, with the theme, “Deepening the Foundations of Innovation and Entrepreneurship”. The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks by the Centre Leaders of ACE-CEFOR and ACE-PUTOR, Prof. Ikechukwu Agbagwa and Prof. Daprim Ogaji, respectively. There were also remarks by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research & Development and Chairman of the Innovation Week Committee, Prof. Iyeopu Siminialayi. The Innovation Week was declared open by the Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill.
The Keynote Lecture, delivered by the Association of African Universities (AAU), Secretary General, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, was titled, “Deepening the Foundations for Innovation & Entrepreneurship”.
Highlights of the Innovation Week included the following lectures by the following – Prof. K. A. Anele, Dean School of Graduate Studies, University of Port Harcourt; Prof. Beatrice Opeolu, the Immediate past President of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Africa and the Vice-President (Incoming President) of the SETAC World Council; Prof. Chi. Mmom, the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State Honorable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State; Ms. Lucy Ekpenyong, the Pitch Partner for University of Delaware’s Global Entrepreneurship competition for Secondary schools students in Nigeria; Dr. Segun Aina, the founding President and Chairman of BoT, Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR), initiator and founding President of the Africa Fintech Network (AFN), Founder/Chairman, The Fintech Institute (TFI) and Opolo Global Innovation Limited; Prof. P. J. Kpolovie, Scientist of the Year 2021 and the International Excellence Award 2023 Winner in Research and Development for Research-Based Writing; Dr. K. Chukwuogo, Managing Director, Boskel Nigeria Limited; Dr. Sam Dede, renowned Nollywood actor and veteran; Prof. K. E. O. Nkanginieme, former Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Chairman of the Professional Ethics Committee of the University of Port Harcourt and Prof. J. A. Ajienka, the 7th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, amongst others.
Presentations were also made by The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), TotalEnergies Limited, Shalina Healthcare Limited and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). There were also Faculty presentations on Innovation/Entrepreneurship by the following Centres, Institutes and Faculties of the University: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Faculty of Science; School of Science Laboratory Technology; Faculty of Agriculture; Faculty of Engineering; ACE-CEFOR; ACE-PUTOR; Centre for marine Pollution; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Management Sciences; Faculty of Law; Faculty of Humanities; Faculty of Communication / Linguistics.
There were also inter-faculty Exhibitions and Poster Sessions by the specific Centres, Institutes and faculties presenting each day.
The 2023 Innovation Week came to a close on Friday, October 27, with Prof. Sotonye Fyneface-Ogan, of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, emerging as the Innovator of the Year, for his breakthrough research in anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia. His invention, the Sling Shot Epidural Syringe, has reduced the time it takes to locate the epidural space for Anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia during the birthing process. Women going through the birthing process, depend on this space for ease of painless labour and delivery.
However, identifying and locating it within the vertebral canal is a global challenge for even experienced Anaesthesiologists. Following the traditional techniques, it can take 20-30 minutes to correctly locate this space. However, the sling shot epidural syringe correctly identifies this potentially negative space within 10 seconds. Prof. Fyneface-Ogan went home with cash prizes.
