The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has offered N5m to the understudies of Marist College, Yangoji, Abuja, for the development of the Sensebox and Aquabot gadgets.

Both devices were designed to monitor air and water pollution.

The cash prize was presented by the Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in his office on Tuesday in Abuja.

This was contained in a press statement titled ‘FG grants N5 million to young innovators’ issued by Irondi Ifeoma, a member of the Ministry’s Press and PR team on Tuesday.

The press statement read, “Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has granted the sum of Five Million naira, to students of Marist College Yangoji Abuja, for inventing the Sensebox and Aquabot device, which are monitoring devices for air and water pollution.”

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It added “The Minister said that with the feat achieved by the students, Nigeria is well positioned to become a hub for creativity. He added that Nigeria will meet all her needs, rely less on import and create wealth for the nation once becoming a creativity hub.”

The minister further assured the inventors that the intellectual property protection of their inventions will be handled by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, an agency under the ministry, with the patenting offered at no cost.

While appealing to parents to motivate their children to be hardworking, respectful, and committed, he encouraged the students, to make the country proud at the upcoming virtual Students for Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship competition.