UNILORIN emerges 2026 CODET Engineering Students’ Project champion
By Mustafa Abubakar, Maryam Abdullahi & Patience Oboh
The University of Ilorin has emerged as the overall winner at the 2026 North Central Zone Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology (CODET) Engineering Students’ Project (ESP) Competition.
The competition, which was held on Monday (June 15, 2026) at the Faculty of Engineering Board Room, NLNG Building, University of Ilorin, saw the University secure the first positions in both the Single and Group categories, recording a remarkable double victory ahead of other participating institutions across the North Central Zone.
The competition featured innovative engineering projects spanning renewable energy, agricultural technology, manufacturing systems, educational support platforms, and artificial intelligence-driven solutions, reflecting the growing role of engineering innovation in addressing contemporary societal challenges.
Representing various institutions in the Single Category was a project titled ‘‘Integrated Biological Pathways for Biohydrogen Production: Evaluating Dark–Photo Fermentation and Dark Fermentation–Microbial Electrolysis Cell Systems”, coordinated by Dr Abdullahi Mohammed.
Other participating institutions also presented projects focused on cassava processing technology and metallographic sample preparation under the supervision of Engr Alake and Engr Oluwakemi.
A competing institution in the Group Category presented InnoWorks: Engineering Support System for SIWES, Internships and Academic Resources, coordinated by Engr Akerodulu Adekunle.
The Students who represented UNILORIN showcased Design and Implementation of AgroSense AI: An End-to-End Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem for Low-Cost Precision Agriculture in the Single Category, alongside NOOSI in the Group Category, with both projects coordinated by Dr S. O. Zakariyya.
Following presentations and evaluation by the panel of judges, UNILORIN emerged winner of the Single Category with AgroSense AI and also secured victory in the Group Category with NOOSI, thereby emerging overall winner of the competition.
The University had also been scheduled to present additional projects on Unmanned Ground Vehicle Technology and Smart Parking System using Arduino Uno.
Earlier in his remarks, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Joshua Olanrewaju Olaoye, commended all participating teams for their innovative efforts and emphasised that every participant remained a winner by virtue of the knowledge, experience and exposure gained through the competition.
He encouraged students to view the observations and critiques of the judges as opportunities for growth and improvement, urging them to continuously refine their projects and sustain the development of their ideas beyond the competition.
Prof. Olaoye stressed the importance of adequate preparation, noting that successful participation in future competitions requires sustained commitment rather than last-minute efforts.
He also appreciated UNILORIN for successfully hosting and sponsoring the 2026 edition of the competition and expressed optimism that other institutions within the North Central Zone would subsequently host future editions in order to strengthen collaboration and innovation among engineering students across the region.
One of the judges, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Extreme Mechanics and Engineering Outfit, Prof. Bola Bolarin, in an interview with UNILORIN Bulletin, commended the quality of projects presented during the competition.
According to him, an increasing number of student projects are now being deliberately designed to address practical societal and industrial challenges, describing the development as highly commendable and one that should be encouraged in future editions.
