This year’s competition for Shell Eco-marathon honors received an incredible surprise that put Nigeria in the limelight. The competition, which took place at Rotterdam in The Netherlands, brought together brilliant student minds from 25 other countries. In attendance were two impressive Nigerian students from the universities of Benin and Lagos. They presented breathtaking ideas that showed extraordinary promise and potential if nurtured in the proper environment.
The 2014 edition of this competition was aimed at challenging teams of students from across the globe to design, generate and test vehicles that are super-energy efficient.
To win, your design had to travel the longest distance, utilizing the least energy. Even before your vehicle got to the tracks, it had to pass through a rigorous technical inspection. The inspection ensured that the model was safe and fit for use. Students from many technologically advanced nations presented designs that failed to pass these technical tests, however, designs that these students from the universities of Benin and Lagos produced passed the tests without any fuss.
This goes to illustrate that given more opportunities and exposure, such students can transform the world. Their participation in this competition was historic in that they were the first from a sub-Saharan nation to take part. They, thus, served as a motivator for African student all over the continent and indeed all over the world, to embark on innovations and pushing for the skies.
Nigeria’s presence in the event was applauded by ‘Mutiu Summonu‘ who is the managing director of Shell Petroleum in Nigeria. He said that Shell will continue to award scholarships to outstanding Nigerian students to promote science and ICT in the country.
All the other dignitaries and speakers at the event, said that this feat by the Nigerian students, was a great achievement that showed Nigeria is capable and ready to embrace and shape the future of technology in the world.
