OAU engineering students win N1 million for tech innovations

Three final year engineering teams at OAU have been awarded a total of N1 million for practical technologies that address oil spill contamination, rural healthcare costs and post harvest losses. The prizes were provided by Moniepoint and the Tosin Eniolorunda Foundation after the Department of Mechanical Engineering final year project exhibition, where twelve teams displayed solutions for agriculture, health and the environment.

The first place team introduced EcoRide, a 12 V DC solar powered mobile refrigerator that can move perishable goods to rural areas lacking reliable electricity. Their aim is to improve the cold chain for farmers and traders, and they received N500,000 for the project. The runner up created a biomimetic high flux dialysis membrane mechanism intended to lower the cost of kidney treatment for disadvantaged communities, earning N300,000. The third place team designed a gravity fed water purification system that can treat oil contaminated water without electricity, and they were awarded N200,000.

Judges evaluated the projects on originality, engineering design, practicality and potential national impact. The panel included Chidinma Enemanna, lead executive communications at Moniepoint Inc., and Edidiong Uwemakpan, vice president of Corporate Affairs at Moniepoint Group, who said the quality of young talent determines the strength of Nigeria economy. Adam Muritala, head of OAU Mechanical Engineering department, called the exhibition a bridge between academic research and industry, urging stakeholders to invest in ideas while students are still in university.

The event also welcomed students from ten secondary schools, giving younger learners exposure to engineering research. Grace Ogunlusi, director of OAU Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office, encouraged them to adopt a research oriented mindset. The awards form part of a broader investment by the Tosin Eniolorunda Foundation and Moniepoint in engineering education. In 2024 the Foundation spent over N100 million to renovate OAU Mechanical Engineering laboratory, now named the Tosin Eniolorunda CAD/CAM Laboratory. A later 2026 initiative launched a N3 billion innovation hub across OAU, UNN and ABU to develop technology talent.

Further development, testing, funding and industry partnerships will be needed before the solar fridge, dialysis membrane and water purifier can reach wider markets. The projects illustrate how university engineering research can be directed at agriculture, healthcare and environmental sustainability, but their ultimate impact will depend on moving from prototype to accessible solution.