Campus News

UNILORIN researchers shine at TETFair with ‘G-Smart Monitor’

*Attract investor for full commercialization

A team of researchers from the University of Ilorin has made headlines with their innovative IoT-based system, the G-Smart Monitor, designed to help farmers monitor greenhouse conditions real-time.

Led by Dr Samuel Olusayo Onidare from the Department of Telecommunication Science, the team was among the 15 selected nationwide for the 2024 TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFair) programme.

The G-Smart Monitor, developed through the TETFair program, enables farmers to reduce crop damage and improve productivity through proactive management. The team, which included Mr Musbau Dogo Abdurahaman of the Department of Information Technology; Mr Yusuf Olayinka Imam-Fulani of the Department of Telecommunication Science; and Miss Fatimah Ismaila of the Department of Telecommunication Science, gained access to advanced technology, machinery, and expert guidance through the programme, to refine its initial research prototype into a fully functional, market-ready product.

The project was showcased at the inaugural TETFund National Research Fair, held in Abuja from November 17th to 21st, 2024. The team’s success has already attracted an investor ready to partner with the research team for large-scale production and marketing of the G-Smart Monitor.

In a chat with UNILORIN Bulletin, Mr Imam-Fulani, one of the four researchers, said that members of the team were invited to the Innov8 Hub in Abuja on four occasions, in addition to several online engagements, where they “gained access to advanced technology, sophisticated machinery, and expert guidance.” He said, “This support allowed us to refine our initial research prototype into a fully functional, market-ready product.”

According to Mr Imam-Fulani, “due to the novelty of our product, our project was selected for exhibition at the inaugural TETFund National Research Fair, held from November 17th to 21st, 2024, at the Eagle Square in Abuja. Following the success recorded at the exhibition and the device’s potential, the product is now ready for commercialisation”.

He added that “we have also secured an investor who is ready to partner with us in large-scale production and marketing of the product.”

Mr Imam-Fulani said the team’s innovative and affordable G-Smart Monitor will assist farmers in monitoring greenhouse conditions in real time through mobile application. This, he noted, will help to reduce crop damage and improve productivity through proactive management.

The team expressed gratitude to TETFUND, Innov8 Hub, and the University of Ilorin for their support in turning their idea into a marketable product. Upon completing the programme, the team members were inducted as fellows of the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFair).

The TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFair) is a fully sponsored, year-long programme by TETFund, designed to support selected research teams in transforming their academic work into viable and marketable products. The initiative targets Nigerian researchers from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, providing a platform to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions.