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The Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, in partnership with the National Universities Commission (NUC), efficiently hosted the Grand Finale of the Coderina University Challenge (COUCH) 2025 on the NUC Auditorium, Abuja.
The occasion gathered prime authorities officers, college leaders, trade companions, and the ten finalist groups chosen from over sixty-two preliminary entries nationwide.
This yr’s problem, themed “Circular Economy Through Technology” spotlighted the potential of Nigerian college college students to develop scalable, tech-enabled options that deal with urgent nationwide points in sustainability, waste administration, power transition, and the round financial system.
The Grand Finale reaffirmed a constant message shared throughout all keynote addresses: Nigeria should speed up the motion of college analysis from cabinets into sensible innovation, commercialization, and trade adoption, a key driver of nationwide growth and financial development.
In his opening deal with, Mr. Olufemi Niyi, chairman, Coderina Board of Directors, emphasised that college tasks should not stay buried in archives.
He highlighted COUCH as a platform proving that analysis can grow to be purposeful innovation.
Mr. Niyi referred to as on donors, growth companions, and personal sector stakeholders to help COUCH as a sustainable nationwide innovation pipeline and inspired buyers to channel sources into abilities develop and know-how innovation amongst youth.
In his keynote deal with, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu, the minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, recommended the COUCH programme for its position in shifting analysis “from the shelves to the marketplace,” a key precedence beneath the ministry’s nationwide innovation agenda.
He famous that the initiative exemplifies the kind of collaboration and commercialization pipeline wanted to unlock Nigeria’s scientific and technological potential.
He highlighted a number of precedence areas important to advancing the nation’s innovation panorama:
“Strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem through coordinated national frameworks and partnerships; expanding digital innovation pathways to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies, and building a tech-driven economy that delivers measurable value and global competitiveness”.
The Minister added that “Creating new alternatives for youth innovators, guaranteeing they’re empowered to take part in and drive the innovation financial system, are a part of the important thing focus areas of the Ministry
He additionally expressed the Ministry’s readiness to companion with COUCH, Coderina, and the NUC to incubate and scale these student-led improvements.
Mallam Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, the chief secretary of NUC acknowledged the twelve universities nominated for the pilot version by the fee.
He urged the finalists to make use of their prize cash to advance entrepreneurship and technical talent growth, reinforcing the NUC’s dedication to fostering innovation-driven studying throughout tertiary establishments.
In a exceptional dedication, the Minister donated 5 million naira to ‘Waste2Light’ from FUT Minna and introduced an intention to collaborate with all ten finalist universities to help commercialization.
Dr. Tope Kolade Fasua, particular deal with to the President on Economic Affairs, said that know-how stays the biggest driver of worldwide financial development, stressing that Nigeria’s financial transformation is intertwined with youth innovation.
He recommended Coderina and suggested for larger visibility and nationwide media outreach; creation of an innovation “museum or archive” for sensible concepts, and the institution of facilities the place theories and analysis will be become merchandise.
He concluded that the way forward for Nigeria’s financial system lies within the arms of right now’s younger innovators.
Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, particular visitor on the programme and vice-chancellor, Nasarawa State University, delivering her deal with on “Sustainable National Transformation,” emphasised the necessity for stronger trade–college collaborations.
She additionally emphasised want for entrepreneurial college tradition; digital literacy in rising applied sciences comparable to AI, blockchain, IoT; adoption of digital studying and distant laboratories, and inclusive innovation for underserved communities.
She highlighted AI as a catalyst for reimagining instructing and studying, together with trainer retraining and curriculum enhancement.
The competitors had two classes of prizes recognizing each technical excellence and public engagement.
Winners of the primary class, The Challenge, primarily based on pitch and prototype presentation was Team IMSU – Imo State University , taking dwelling the star prize of ₦5,000,000; 2nd Place winners: Team Neuronaut Nile University Prize, ₦2,500,000, and third Place – Team Waste2light from the Federal University of Technology, Minna: ₦1,500,000.
The People’s Choice Awards winners, primarily based on social media engagement and public voting, are Team ADSU Innovators – Adamawa State Uni.: ₦250,000; 2nd Place -Team Scraplink, Lagos State University: ₦150,000, and third place – Team Circle from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, took dwelling ₦100,000.
Giving COUCH overview, Ms. Christiana Anthony, the Project Lead, reaffirmed that COUCH isn’t merely a contest however a structured innovation growth program.
She highlighted the robust collaboration between Coderina and the NUC, noting that this system has created a nationwide pathway for college students to design, construct, take a look at, and pitch options with actual potential for commercialization.
The COUCH 2025 grand finale demonstrated Nigeria’s readiness to harness university-driven innovation as a catalyst for financial development, job creation, and sustainable growth.
The Coderina University Challenge (COUCH) is a nationwide innovation program empowering college college students to design and develop technology-enabled options for real-world challenges. The program supplies mentorship, capability constructing, funding, and publicity to bridge the hole between educational analysis and trade innovation.
