Campus News

UNILORIN graduate wins N.3m at PIC contest

By Mustafa Abubakar

An alumnus of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mr Habeeb Akinsola, has won a cash prize of N300, 000.00 after emerging second at the Policy and Innovation Centre (PIC) Gender and Inclusion Summit 2025 Pitchathon competition.

            The contest was held penultimate Thursday (September 4, 2025), at the Policy and Innovation Centre, Abuja.

Mr Akinsola, who competed against over 400 other contestants, impressed judges in the Health category with “Abiyamọ”, a solar-powered infant incubator. He disclosed that the project, which marks the fourth award he has won with the innovation, was developed as his final year project in 2023.

According  to him, it tackles preventable infant deaths in underserved communities by providing reliable neonatal care independent of grid electricity and has further strengthened his growing record of innovation.

He previously won the Hult Prize OnCampus Programme, representing Nigeria in Nairobi,  selected for the Project I2M Incubator Programme and Startup Grant Competition, and also took third place at the ABCHealth Xcelerator Pitch Programme.

“Abiyamọ”, which originated as his undergraduate project, continues to benefit from UNILORIN’s partnerships.

Mr Akinsola’s innovation has received advisory support and mentorship from Dr Suleiman also commended the young innovator, Abimbola Yahaya, a former Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Abdulafeez Adeyemo, a Senior Technical Officer at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).

The innovation, which also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and has the potential to save countless infant lives across underserved communities, has its pilot programmes also scheduled to begin in Nigeria in the first quarter of 2027.

In his reaction, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Joshua Olanrewaju Olaoye, praised Akinsola’s resilience and impact, stating, “This award underscores the Faculty’s role in nurturing talents who can compete globally. We are proud of Habeeb’s contributions and are committed to supporting more students with groundbreaking ideas.”

The Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dr Sani Saminu, also commended the young innovator, saying, “Habeeb has brought pride to our Department. His project not only demonstrates technical excellence but also reflects the Department’s commitment to producing graduates who can transform communities through innovation.”

While commenting, Dr Yahaya, described Akinsola’s achievement as “a testament to the power of research-driven innovation at UNILORIN,” noting that “his success is a proof that when students combine creativity with academic rigour, their work can solve real societal problems.”

In his remarks, Mr Akinsola expressed gratitude to the University and his mentors, describing the award as “a humbling recognition of years of hard work and persistence.”

He added, “Abiyamọ was born out of a desire to save lives, and each award reminds me that innovation must always serve humanity. I am grateful to UNILORIN for giving me the platform to dream and to my mentors for guiding me along the way.”