There is an urgent need to address the neonatal mortality in Nigeria, the General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, has said.

Odeh spoke at the public presentation of the winning work of Prof. Hippolite Amadi to the industry community.

The event was organised by the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited, sponsors of won by Prof. Amadi, in collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). 

Represented by the Acting Manager of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Yemi Adeyemi, the General Manager noted that Nigeria, as per a 2023 World Health Organisation (WHO) Report, ranks second globally in maternal, neonatal, and child deaths.

According to him, Professor Amadi’s innovations offer a beacon of hope in the face of this alarming statistics.

“The ground-breaking innovations of Professor Amadi, as recognised by The Nigeria Prize for Science, are not merely a step forward for our nation but a beacon of hope for the countless new-born lives that hang in the balance. We cannot afford to let the cries of our newborns fade into the background of our daily lives.

“The urgency to combat neonatal mortality is a solemn duty to safeguard the future of our nation’s children, and we must answer that call with unwavering determination and immediate, decisive measures.

“NLNG is very proud of Professor Amadi’s discoveries through The Nigeria Prize for Science.

“Our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria is the core of the prize, and we believe strongly that the 2023 winning entry speaks in unambiguous terms as one of the ways we can achieve this vision. NLNG remains committed to the prize and will not relent in finding solutions to the nation’s development issues,” Odeh said.

The event not only celebrated Prof. Amadi’s achievements but also served as a platform to encourage collaboration between the researcher and industry investors.

[TheNation]