by Kingseyi Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:10 pmThe University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) says it
is deepening economic transformation in West
Africa through its newly established Lion
Science Park (LSP).
The UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin
Ozumba was quoted as making the remark in a
statement on Wednesday by the Manager of the
Lion Science Park, Ms Chinwe Okoli at the
inaugural meeting of the Board of the Park in
Nsukka, Enugu State.
According to Ozumba, the Science Park is
designed as an innovation hub, an economic
transformation initiative and a sustainable
development project in line with the UN
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 17).
File: UNN Main Gate
He said that the major mandate of the institute
and other higher institutions and research
resource centers was to provide the knowledge
backbone for industry, commerce and society.
He said that the mandate had become more
urgent, especially in view of the current global
emphasis on the need for a progressive
paradigm shift to innovation-driven and
knowledge-based economy.
“The LSP is expected to encourage regional,
national and international scientific Research and
Development (R&D) initiatives by supporting
alliance and interaction amongst academia,
industry and government.
“It is expected to create strategic synergies with
private, public and institutional research
institutes/centers seeking to optimise their
research activities by collaborating with
researchers, research groups and research
institutes in Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla
campuses.
“It is in pursuit of the mandate that UNN
established the first university-based Science
Park in Nigeria (the Lion Science Park) with
advisory support from Ideon Science and Lunda
Vision, both in Sweden.
“Lion Science Park, the first university-based
science park in Nigeria held its maiden board
meeting on July 17 at the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka campus.
“The board membership is predicated on the
triple helix concept and thus has representatives
from the public sector, private sector and the
academia.
“The park will provide graduates with direct and
unhindered access to specialised innovative
infrastructure of the highest standard, exposing
them to an outstanding training opportunity for
applied scientific innovation and entrepreneurial
skills,“ he said.
Ozumba said a lot had happened in the
innovation space in the university within a year.
He said that the first fully-fledged university-
based technology incubator, Roar Nigeria, was
up and running, which was already incubating
startups.
He said that the Lion Laptop Assembly Plant
(Lion Technologies) was producing affordable
and high spec laptops, adding that the Park
already had tenant companies.
“Over 215 research groups in the university are
ready to deliver impactful research solutions to
companies.
“We are building a world class science park; we
currently have a temporary building and
planning to develop the 50 hectares of land for
the permanent site of the Lion Science Park,” he
added.
Prof. Kenneth Ofokansi, the Director,
International Collaborations for the University
said: “the first international workshop on
Science Park and innovation was held in Feb. 20
to Feb. 23 at the UNN with the them:“ Science
Park and Innovation Ecosystem for National
Development.“
He said the workshop recorded an impressive
international participation including the Minister
for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya
Onu.
“The immediate result from the conference was
the delegation of the 10 Directors-General of the
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to
UNN in March on a fact-finding mission and to
explore areas of possible collaboration.
“To ensure synergy and sustainability, the Lion
Science Park Board membership comprises top
representatives of the government’s ministry of
science and technology, top industry players
from the private sector and seasoned professors
from the academia,“ he said.
Dr Emeka Okwuosa, a board member, who was
the first Vice Chairman of the board, said that
such development was needed for high quality
research output providing home-grown solutions
to the problems of industries and businesses in
Nigeria.
“First, it was the West Africa’s first university-
embedded technology hub and now it’s Africa’s
first university-led science park at UNN.
“This landmark is laudable and shows that Lion
Science Park at UNN is truly the home for
innovation” he said.
Dr Sven-Thore Holm, the founder of Ideon
Science Park, Sweden, a board member said
being in the innovation business for 35 years in
Sweden, the speed of what was happening now
with Lion Science Park was impressive.
“It was a successful meeting with very high
expectations for the Science, Technology and
Innovation System in Nigeria. What I saw at Roar
Nigeria Incubator only reminds me of what I saw
in Shanghai recently,” he said.
Mr Anpe Fut, a board member representing the
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, said
Roar Nigeria Technology Incubator already had
12 startups working on great ideas across
sectors.
He said that a lot more applications for
incubation programme were being received
daily.
“It should be pointed out that Lion Science Park
is already globally recognised as a member of
the International Association of Science Parks
and Areas of Innovation.
“Also with tenant companies such Huawei
Technologies such as Huawei Authorised
Information and Network Academy (HAINA) and
MiraiDenchi.
“HAINA trains certified candidates on Huawei
Technologies and so far, a number of students
and staff of the university are already certified
through this programme,“ he said.
NAN
is deepening economic transformation in West
Africa through its newly established Lion
Science Park (LSP).
The UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin
Ozumba was quoted as making the remark in a
statement on Wednesday by the Manager of the
Lion Science Park, Ms Chinwe Okoli at the
inaugural meeting of the Board of the Park in
Nsukka, Enugu State.
According to Ozumba, the Science Park is
designed as an innovation hub, an economic
transformation initiative and a sustainable
development project in line with the UN
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 17).
File: UNN Main Gate
He said that the major mandate of the institute
and other higher institutions and research
resource centers was to provide the knowledge
backbone for industry, commerce and society.
He said that the mandate had become more
urgent, especially in view of the current global
emphasis on the need for a progressive
paradigm shift to innovation-driven and
knowledge-based economy.
“The LSP is expected to encourage regional,
national and international scientific Research and
Development (R&D) initiatives by supporting
alliance and interaction amongst academia,
industry and government.
“It is expected to create strategic synergies with
private, public and institutional research
institutes/centers seeking to optimise their
research activities by collaborating with
researchers, research groups and research
institutes in Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla
campuses.
“It is in pursuit of the mandate that UNN
established the first university-based Science
Park in Nigeria (the Lion Science Park) with
advisory support from Ideon Science and Lunda
Vision, both in Sweden.
“Lion Science Park, the first university-based
science park in Nigeria held its maiden board
meeting on July 17 at the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka campus.
“The board membership is predicated on the
triple helix concept and thus has representatives
from the public sector, private sector and the
academia.
“The park will provide graduates with direct and
unhindered access to specialised innovative
infrastructure of the highest standard, exposing
them to an outstanding training opportunity for
applied scientific innovation and entrepreneurial
skills,“ he said.
Ozumba said a lot had happened in the
innovation space in the university within a year.
He said that the first fully-fledged university-
based technology incubator, Roar Nigeria, was
up and running, which was already incubating
startups.
He said that the Lion Laptop Assembly Plant
(Lion Technologies) was producing affordable
and high spec laptops, adding that the Park
already had tenant companies.
“Over 215 research groups in the university are
ready to deliver impactful research solutions to
companies.
“We are building a world class science park; we
currently have a temporary building and
planning to develop the 50 hectares of land for
the permanent site of the Lion Science Park,” he
added.
Prof. Kenneth Ofokansi, the Director,
International Collaborations for the University
said: “the first international workshop on
Science Park and innovation was held in Feb. 20
to Feb. 23 at the UNN with the them:“ Science
Park and Innovation Ecosystem for National
Development.“
He said the workshop recorded an impressive
international participation including the Minister
for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya
Onu.
“The immediate result from the conference was
the delegation of the 10 Directors-General of the
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to
UNN in March on a fact-finding mission and to
explore areas of possible collaboration.
“To ensure synergy and sustainability, the Lion
Science Park Board membership comprises top
representatives of the government’s ministry of
science and technology, top industry players
from the private sector and seasoned professors
from the academia,“ he said.
Dr Emeka Okwuosa, a board member, who was
the first Vice Chairman of the board, said that
such development was needed for high quality
research output providing home-grown solutions
to the problems of industries and businesses in
Nigeria.
“First, it was the West Africa’s first university-
embedded technology hub and now it’s Africa’s
first university-led science park at UNN.
“This landmark is laudable and shows that Lion
Science Park at UNN is truly the home for
innovation” he said.
Dr Sven-Thore Holm, the founder of Ideon
Science Park, Sweden, a board member said
being in the innovation business for 35 years in
Sweden, the speed of what was happening now
with Lion Science Park was impressive.
“It was a successful meeting with very high
expectations for the Science, Technology and
Innovation System in Nigeria. What I saw at Roar
Nigeria Incubator only reminds me of what I saw
in Shanghai recently,” he said.
Mr Anpe Fut, a board member representing the
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, said
Roar Nigeria Technology Incubator already had
12 startups working on great ideas across
sectors.
He said that a lot more applications for
incubation programme were being received
daily.
“It should be pointed out that Lion Science Park
is already globally recognised as a member of
the International Association of Science Parks
and Areas of Innovation.
“Also with tenant companies such Huawei
Technologies such as Huawei Authorised
Information and Network Academy (HAINA) and
MiraiDenchi.
“HAINA trains certified candidates on Huawei
Technologies and so far, a number of students
and staff of the university are already certified
through this programme,“ he said.
NAN
