Every year, the Federal Government of Nigeria always honour many Prominent Citizens with National Awards of different categories in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective callings. Before the end of this year, it is expected that our President, DR. Goodluck Jonathan, will decorate another batch of achievers with Year 2010 National Awards from Member of the order of the Niger (MON) to Grand Commander of Federal Republic (GCFR).
There is a prominent Nigerian Inventor of World repute, Prof. King Clement Adiamako Uwemedimo, the boss of Comandclem Nig. Ltd., whose invention for Oil exploration has been ringing bells worldwide. The Invention, Anti-corrosive Special Paint for Q.I.T (TRANSTEEL BLUE, WHITE ENAMEL, Q.A.D) invented in 1980, is believed to be the first and only enabling chemical used in the production of Crude oil, condensate, liquified natural gas and other allied products.
The Federal Government of Nigeria gave Prof. Uwemedimo the Patent Right for the invention through the Non-convention Patent RP. 13522 issued to him on 5th August 1999.
In December 2009, Nigeria's Court of Appeal ruled that Prof. King Uwemedimo was the true and statutory inventor of this all-important product. By this ruling, there is no more controversy over the ownership of the invention being enjoyed by oil companies and others world-wide.
Prof. Uwemedimo even went to Ghana on Saturday, May 15, 2010, to receive an Award.
My Question is, should Prof. Clement Uwemedimo, the genius who has earned a landmark reputation for Nigeria by this invention be given a National Award this year?
Should this over 80 year old inventor be honoured by his Country while still alive?
Should Nigeria wait until his demise only to appreciate him with Posthumous National Award?

The guy deserves an award, unfortunately we lack a culture of rewarding our great achievers in this country

How can our leaders recognise him when he has no godfather? Nigeria is a sad story in recognising merits.