Professor Edu Inam, a Nigerian scientist and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Uyo, has been awarded the 2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize by the Schlumberger Foundation. This prestigious prize was given in recognition of her initiative, ‘Scaling a Research Equipment Database for Equitable Access in Nigeria.’ The initiative aims to enhance access to scientific equipment and research infrastructure across Nigeria. Inam was selected among nine women scientists and engineers from 156 applications across 61 countries.
To address this gap, Inam developed a searchable platform called LabEquipment.ng. Launched in 2021, the platform provides information on available research equipment, their locations, and contacts for accessing them. By the end of 2025, the platform had successfully onboarded 22 institutions, listed over 200 pieces of equipment, recorded more than 3,000 searches and interactions, and gained over 550 users. This initiative has significantly improved the accessibility of research equipment for Nigerian researchers.
The Schlumberger Foundation's Impact Prize will support further development of LabEquipment.ng. Inam plans to use the funding to enhance the platform's mobile access, onboard more institutions, and establish clearer systems for requesting equipment and laboratory services. The long-term vision for the platform is to shift the focus from whether a specific university owns a piece of equipment to identifying where in Nigeria the required capability is available and how it can be accessed.
The Schlumberger Foundation's Impact Prize is part of a broader evolution in the foundation's programs. According to the President of the Schlumberger Foundation, Capella Festa, the program has transitioned from solely supporting the education of women scientists to recognizing and supporting its fellows in applying their expertise to address community challenges. The Impact Prize aims to recognize leadership in this area, connect it across the fellowship, and help it expand further.
Inam is not the sole recipient of the 2026 Impact Prize. Other winners include Dr. Darshana Joshi for her work on STEM access for women and rural communities in India, Dr. Angela Tabiri for the Mathsqueen National STEAM Circuit, Dr. Novalia Pishesha for the Future Southeast Asian Scientist initiative, and Dr. Chao Mbogo for mentorship infrastructure for holistic technologists. These recipients were chosen for their impactful contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and their commitment to improving access and equity in their respective fields.
The recognition of Inam's work by the Schlumberger Foundation underscores the importance of initiatives that improve access to research infrastructure in Nigeria and beyond. By supporting projects like LabEquipment.ng, the foundation is contributing to a more connected research ecosystem. This ecosystem will enable students and researchers to access necessary equipment and facilities, thereby fostering innovation and scientific advancement in Nigeria and other regions.
Key points
- Professor Edu Inam wins 2026 Schlumberger Foundation Impact Prize.
- Inam's initiative, LabEquipment.ng, improves access to research equipment in Nigeria.
- The prize will support further development of LabEquipment.ng.
