Moniepoint Awards ₦1 Million to Nigerian Engineering Students for Three Innovations

Three teams of final-year engineering students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria have received a combined ₦1 million in prizes from Moniepoint and the Tosin Eniolorinda Foundation for developing technologies targeting challenges in agriculture, healthcare and environmental management.

The awards followed the university's Department of Mechanical Engineering final-year project exhibition, where 12 teams presented engineering solutions designed to address practical problems affecting Nigerian communities.

Three Projects Target Practical Challenges

The first prize of ₦500,000 went to the team behind 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 project addresses post-harvest losses caused by inadequate cold-storage facilities and unreliable electricity. By combining solar power with mobile refrigeration, the students aim to give farmers and traders a way to preserve produce during transportation to markets.

The first runner-up received ₦300,000 for developing a biomimetic high-flux dialysis membrane mechanism. The project explores ways to make kidney treatment more affordable, particularly for patients in rural communities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds who face high treatment costs and limited access to specialised healthcare facilities.

The third team received ₦200,000 for designing a gravity-fed water purification system intended to treat water contaminated by oil spills. Unlike conventional treatment systems that depend on electricity, the proposed design uses gravity, making it relevant to communities affected by oil pollution and unreliable power supply.

Corporate Support for University Innovation

The projects were assessed by a panel of judges based on originality, engineering design, innovation, practicality and their potential contribution to national development.

Moniepoint Group's Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Edidiong Uwemakpan, said the students had demonstrated how engineering ideas could address problems within their communities. He added that the company and the Tosin Eniolorinda Foundation would continue supporting young people and practical innovations.

The awards build on previous investments in engineering education at OAU. In 2024, the Tosin Eniolorinda Foundation spent more than ₦100 million renovating and equipping the university's Mechanical Engineering laboratory, which was subsequently named the Tosin Eniolorinda CAD/CAM Laboratory.

A Wider Investment in Engineering Education

In 2026, Moniepoint Group and the Foundation also launched a ₦3 billion innovation hub initiative involving three Nigerian universities: OAU, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Ahmadu Bello University.

The latest exhibition also brought students from 10 secondary schools to OAU, exposing them to engineering research and practical technology development.

The three winning projects remain at the development stage and will require further testing and engineering work before wider deployment. EcoRide received the largest award of ₦500,000, followed by the dialysis membrane project at ₦300,000 and the water purification system at ₦200,000.