Moniepoint and the Tosin Eniolorinda Foundation have rewarded three teams of final-year Mechanical Engineering students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with ₦1 million for developing innovative engineering solutions to pressing challenges in agriculture, healthcare and environmental sustainability.
The awards, which recognise the students’ creativity and practical problem-solving abilities, were presented at the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s final-year project exhibition, where 12 student teams showcased projects designed to address real-life challenges and contribute to national development.
A panel of judges, including Chidinma Enemanna, Lead Executive Communications, Moniepoint Inc., evaluated the projects based on originality, engineering design, innovation, practicality and their potential impact on society.
The winning team received ₦500,000, while the first and second runners-up were awarded ₦300,000 and ₦200,000, respectively.
Taking the top prize was a team that developed EcoRide, a 12V DC solar-powered mobile refrigerator designed to transport perishable goods and agricultural produce to rural communities with limited access to affordable refrigeration. The innovation is expected to help reduce post-harvest losses and improve the preservation of farm produce.
The first runner-up developed a biomimetic high-flux dialysis membrane mechanism aimed at exploring more affordable kidney treatment options for rural dwellers and people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The second runner-up presented a gravity-fed water purification system capable of treating water contaminated by oil spills in the Niger Delta and other affected communities without requiring electricity.
Speaking on the initiative, Edidiong Uwemakpan, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Moniepoint Group, emphasised the importance of nurturing young talents and supporting ideas capable of driving economic and social transformation.
“The strength of any economy lies in the quality of its young talents. These students have shown what is possible when ambition meets the right support, and their solutions speak directly to the needs of our communities. Moniepoint, together with the Tosin Eniolorinda Foundation, remains committed to investing in the people and ideas that will drive Nigeria’s development.”
The Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Adam Muritala, described the exhibition as an important link between academic learning and industry, stressing the need for stakeholders to identify and support promising innovations while students are still in the university.
“Let us invest in their ideas while they are still in the university environment,” he said.
The exhibition also provided an opportunity for secondary school students to experience practical innovation and engineering creativity, with students from 10 schools participating in the event.
Addressing the visiting students, Prof. Grace Ogunlusi, Director of OAU’s Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office, encouraged them to cultivate a research-oriented mindset and think critically about developing solutions to societal problems.
The latest intervention builds on the Tosin Eniolorinda Foundation’s sustained investment in engineering education and innovation at OAU. In 2024, the Foundation invested more than ₦100 million in the renovation and equipping of the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s laboratory, subsequently named the Tosin Eniolorinda CAD/CAM Laboratory.
The facility provides students with improved infrastructure and equipment to support engineering education, research and practical innovation.
Further extending its commitment to developing Nigeria’s next generation of technology and innovation talents, the Tosin Eniolorinda Foundation and Moniepoint Group in 2026 launched a ₦3 billion innovation hub initiative across three universities: Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).
Through these interventions, the partners are strengthening the connection between university education, practical research and industry, while creating opportunities for young Nigerians to develop solutions that address the country’s developmental needs.