By Juliet Ezeh
Young Nigerian innovators have demonstrated how science and technology can address some of Africa’s most pressing challenges at the AfriVatech iResearch Fellowship Cohort One Grand Pitch.
The virtual event brought together seven research fellows from major Nigerian universities, each presenting projects aimed at tackling issues ranging from healthcare and food safety to agriculture and antimicrobial resistance. The pitch session highlighted the growing influence of youth-led STEM startups in providing practical solutions to local and continental problems.
Speaking at the event, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, praised the participants for their ingenuity and commitment to developing home-grown solutions. He stressed the importance of investment in STEM education and research, noting that “at this critical time, no one is going to rescue Africa other than we Africans ourselves.”
Among the innovations showcased, Mercy Sado introduced a QR-code-based honey traceability system to tackle health risks from adulterated products. Tife Kerry presented Green Cycle, a technology-driven process converting agricultural waste into organic fertiliser to improve soil health. Other notable projects included Sekinah Adegbite’s digital continuity model for hypertension and diabetes care, Aminat Adeshiyan’s BioSecured Futures, and Boluwatife Balogun’s Sentisense Africa, a real-time surveillance system targeting antimicrobial resistance. Tolulope Oladipo proposed a multimodal artificial intelligence framework for health surveillance, while Winner Bakati introduced RedBarn Agrihub, a model designed to support year-round vegetable production and household adoption.
After a rigorous evaluation process that considered problem relevance, innovation, impact potential, leadership, and presentation clarity, Kerry emerged as the overall winner with 84 per cent, followed by Sado with 67 per cent and Balogun with 64.5 per cent. The results were announced by former Egyptian Minister of Health, Dr Halla Zaid, who commended the fellows for their strong understanding of local challenges and encouraged them to continue developing impactful solutions.
The top three participants are expected to join the AfriVatech research team, gaining access to global opportunities and potential funding to scale their science and technology startups. Analysts say initiatives like the AfriVatech iResearch Fellowship underscore the potential of youth-led STEM innovation to provide practical solutions to Africa’s developmental challenges.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.