POIC 3.0. 2025. Ladoke Akintola Varsity Contestant Clinches 1st Prize

L-r… Dr. Alakija, Chaplain, Redeemers University; Former Vice chancellor of University of Lagos / Pro-Chancellor, Redeemer’s University,   Prof  Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on eGIS and Urban Development; Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde; ; Dr. Rotimi Fashola during the  Professor Ogundipe innovative challenge 3.0  on empowering thinkers; Science for a Sustainable Future, held at the University of Lagos...

 

 

Team SAOT, one of the competing teams from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho in Osun, has emerged winners of this year’s Prof.  Ogundipe Innovative Challenge (POIC) 3.0 held at the University of Lagos, on Thursday.

 

The team carted home the coveted prize money of N1.5 million for their brilliance.

 

The grande finale of the competition, the third in the series, is with the theme: Empowering Thinkers; Science for a Sustainable Future.

 

The second and third positions  went to Teams  Skypo and  Prime, both from the University of Lagos. They were rewarded with the sum of N1million and  N750,000 respectively.

 

A consolation prize of N250,000 was given to  contestants from other universities each, including those from theFederal University of Technology, Minna, as well as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in Kaduna, among others, with an all expenses of logistics paid.

 

The POIC  is an exciting annual competition designed to empower young Nigerian students to innovate and develop solutions that tackled societal challenges. This year’s competition is focused on three key areas: Agriculture, Software Engineering, and Security. 

 

Participants worked on projects that aligned  with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have the potential to create lasting impact.  

 

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the event, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, immediate past Vice Chancellor of UNILAG said the competition was getting more exciting and appealing, as the year rolled by.

 

Ogundipe, in whose honour  the challenge is endowed, said considering the level of ingenuity displayed by the competitors, there was the need for more collaboration from stakeholders, to further motivate and bring out the best from youths across the country, through the platform.

 

He added that already, plans were underway by the  organisers of the competition, to take it beyond the shores of Nigeria.

 

Prof. Ogundipe, also the Pro Chancellor, Redeemer’s University Ede, in Osun noted that with the support from corporate bodies like Sahara, WEMA, Post Assurance Brokers and other supporting instructions, the competition would be made open to students in other institutions outside Nigeria.

 

“The target is to empower thinkers. To encourage youths who can actively think outside the box, who have initiatives in the area of innovation, entrepreneurship and be able to start their businesses and become employees of labour.

 

“This year’s competition has been interesting and captivating. We have six contestants shortlisted out of over 300 entries, from universities across the country.

 

“The whole essence for this competition is to empower thinkers at the university level. It offers a platform for students to showcase their creativity, solve real-world problems and contribute to a better future.

 

“These students here today from various universities across the country are here to showcase the skills, what they have come up with, in different ways, did their presentation and ofcourse we have professionals here from the Lagos State government, NITDA and others. 

 

“In the past we have produced persons  that went through this particular platform, went  ahead to feature in other international competitions like this one and came out tops.

 

“So, it is our firm resolve and commitment to attract and develop the youths  and get the best from them, especially in the area of skills, entrepreneurship and innovation, for the purpose of job creation,” the don added.

 

Shedding more light on the competition, Prof. Temitope Onumiya, Department of Botany, UNILAG and  a member of the organising committee said the competition gave the participants the platform to showcase their expertise in solving national problems.

 

According to her, the entire challenge is focused on various Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)13.

 

“We focused various SDGs, looking at Power and Climate Action, that is, SDG 13. We look at creating enabling environment for our people.

“We also looked at agriculture, ensuring poverty alleviation. Those were the focus of presentation.

 

“For the overall winners of today, they focused on using NANO technology in creating skills for power and that is what their own innovation is about. Ensuring that they have adequate electricity, using NANO technology.

 

“The second position, Team Skypo, looked at smart agriculture. How we can use artificial intelligence and Internet of Things, to be able to develop agricultural practices, to ensure more food production and have lesser pollution in the environment.

 

“So, they are trying to tackle two things; hunger, as well as clean environment, at the end of the day.

 

“The third team, which is Team Pride, worked on using natural products for the production of cosmetics. Nowadays, we find a lot of issues with skin cancer, amongst other types of cancer, among the populace. 

 

“So, they believed that using natural products to develop brands or lines of cosmetics will help people to stay healthy and still enjoy looking beautiful in doing that.

 

“Those are the three innovations that the three teams came up with today. Other teams from various institutions worked on energy and agriculture in diverse areas. But the overall winner is from Ladoke Akintola university,” she stated.

 

This year’s edition of the competition had a total of 173 applicants, 50 teams, 50 proposals, 7 finalists, with three winners emerging.