Nigerian Wins Tech Award for Creating Nano Scanners that can detect fake drugs

Nigerian Adebayo Alonge has won the €100K prize for creating handheld nano scanners that can detect fake drugs at the 2019 BNP Paribas Group Deep Tech Award.

Also known as the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge, the honour’s objective is to unlock the potentials of deep technologies and to tackle the toughest industrial, environmental and social challenges.

[#BNPPEvent] When #deeptech finds its way to a #safer future: Today, half of drugs in Africa are fake drugs. But tomorrow, thanks to @RxAll_Inc & @adebayoalonge, handheld nanoscanners can ensure drug quality in real time! They won BNP Paribas Grand Prize at @hellotmrc: € 100K 👏 pic.twitter.com/uSnhnrCLVp

— BNP Paribas Group (@BNPParibas) March 19, 2019

Having survived a fake drug incident in Nigeria 15 years ago, Adebayo Alonge was emotional while receiving the award. “Thank you so much. It’s been a long journey personally for me, from the 15 years when I was surviving from a fake drug to standing today in front of you here and letting you be in my dream and the dream of my co-founders to make sure that most of the people are safe from fake medicines,” Adebayo said.

“Really emotional victory for me in particular and my team. The love and support for me and my team at RxAll Inc. from all of the innovators at @hellotomorrow was really touching. I appreciate @BNPParibas for supporting deapTech #htsummit #safedrugsworld #Rxscanner,” he stated in a tweet.

The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge platform allows entrepreneurial scientists from around the globe to participate for research and projects purposes, provides equity-free prize money as well as other funding opportunities, global visibility and connections with key players in the deeptech innovation network.

WE WON deepTECH OSCARS!!! 😎😇😍
Grateful to @WeHealth_ @DavidGuez_WH to have won the #digitalHealth category and to have won the @hellotmrc Grand Prize (from among 4500 deepTech startups) as we work with others towards a safe future where no one dies from fake drugs. #safedrugs pic.twitter.com/EqOII7ZSvj

— RxAll, Inc. (@RxAll_Inc) March 18, 2019