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Two Nigerian students, Eyenimi Ndimou and Ify Aniebo, have been nominated for the International Student Innovation Award 2016 in the United Kingdom. The award will recognise the city of London’s most innovative international student, according to a statement released today by the Press Office of London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s official promotional company.

Eyenimi Ndimou and Ify Aniebo are both students at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Ndimou has created a mobile app that diagnoses birth asphyxia by listening out for a certain frequency in a baby’s cry. Birth asphyxia happens when a baby's brain and other organs do not get enough oxygen before, during or right after birth. Researchers say a lot of children are born with birth asphyxia. Using Ndimou's app, parents and healthcare workers can quickly detect asphyxia in babies, and refer them for potentially lifesaving treatment.

Aniebo has designed a mobile app which detects malaria in blood samples, by transforming any mobile phone with a camera into a microscope. The app also tells users what type of malaria is present in a blood sample and advises on possible courses of treatment. The two mobile apps have been shortlisted as part of the Mayor of London's International Student Innovation Awards 2016.      

Britain's historic decision to leave the European Union (EU) has been greeted with concerns over negative economic, political and immigration fallouts. London & Partners said it launched a search to identify London’s most innovative international student to show that world-class talents thrive in the city's universities.

“The incredible range of talent on show in these awards celebrates the best of the capital and clearly demonstrates that London is open to talent and ideas from across the globe,” said Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. “We need to do all we can to ensure that London remains the best and most welcoming destination for international students.”

Over 100,000 international students from over 200 different nations bring in £3 billion to London’s economy every year, according to Lord Karan Bilimoria of Chelsea, Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer and President of the UK Council for International Student Affairs. He also said it is vital for the city to offer those students the very best opportunities to make an impact in their chosen fields. The award is also designed to provide some financial help to assist students in taking their innovation to the next stage of development.

According to London & Partners, hundreds of entries were received from students representing 49 different countries in 17 London universities. The recipient of the award will be announced at an event on November 2nd at Central Saint Martins, Granary Square. The winner will receive £10,000 to kick-start their business.

“This award would simply mean that my team and I are one step closer to realizing our dream of saving millions of newborn lives in Nigeria and many other developing countries,” Eyenimi Ndimou said.  

The award is supported by the UK Government’s Education is GREAT campaign and the British Council, Cambridge English, IDP Education – a leading international student placement services – and The PIE - an international education consultancy platform.

“These awards, which have unearthed a wealth of innovation in our universities, help cement London’s reputation for forward-thinking, problem-solving science and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Dr Eliot Forster, Chair of MedCity. “By supporting the creative and entrepreneurial endeavour of students it will enable them to develop and take their ideas to market which could change lives for the better and improve the healthcare landscape.”