Nigerian professor wins N200M for solving 156-year old maths problem

fuad lawal

November 17, 2015 6:33 AM

A mathematical problem had been unsolvable for 156 years, then a Nigerian Professor came along.

The Riemann Zeta Hypothesis is one of the seven Millennium Problems set forth by the Clay Mathematics Institute with a million dollar reward for each solved problem for the past 16 years.

Dr. Opeyemi Enoch of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, has made history by providing proof for the old Riemann Hypothesis.

Achieving this feat has made him only the fourth person to solve one of the seven Millennium Problems in mathematical history.

In a statement from the Ekiti State University on Sunday, Dr. Enoch’s presentation of the solution last Wednesday at the International Conference on Mathematics and Computer Science in Vienna, Austria, became more symbolic coming on the exact day and month, 156 years after the problem was brought to light by a German mathematician in 1859.

The University's statement said:

“Dr. Enoch first investigated and established the claims by Riemann. He went on to consider and correct the misconceptions that were communicated by mathematicians in past generations, thus paving the way for his solution and proof to be established.

He also showed how other problems of this kind can be formulated and obtained the matrix that Hilbert and Poly predicted will give these undiscovered solutions. He revealed how these solutions are applicable in cryptography, quantum information science and in quantum computers.”

As a reward for his feat, the Mathematics Institute is awarding him $1 million.

According to Daily Post, He once designed the prototype of a silo for peasant farmers and discovered a scientific technique for detecting and tracking someone on an evil mission.

In addition, Enoch has succeeded in inventing methods by which oil pipelines can be protected from vandalism and is currently working on mathematical approaches to climate change.

fuad lawal