ABU, FUTO to compete at world innovative competition in Brazil

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) have secured top honors at the 2026 Enactus Nigeria National Competition and will compete against 35 other countries at the Enactus World Cup in Brazil. FUTO claimed two victories, securing the Enactus Early Stage Final with a biofuel project and the Julius Berger Innovation Challenge with a robot called ALTAR, designed to identify structural and construction failures.

ABU triumphed in the Enactus Advanced Stage Competition Final with NeemPest, a certified multi-modal biopesticide that eliminates Tuta absoluta within 48 hours, and TomPa, a tomato processing brand that converts surplus harvests into long-lasting powder and puree.

Michael Ajayi, Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, emphasized that these projects signify more than academic endeavors. He stated that they represent the ingenuity, resilience, and determination of a generation dedicated to enhancing Nigeria. Ajayi added that Enactus will persist in nurturing entrepreneurs, innovators, ethical leaders, and change-makers who recognize education's purpose lies in addressing real societal issues.

The national competition concluded a twelve-month period of intense work across 33 tertiary institutions in Nigeria, where students identified social and environmental problems and devised business model solutions that directly tackle these issues, creating value for communities. Ajayi highlighted that Enactus aims to train Nigerian youth to become resilient, purpose-driven, and value-oriented future leaders who can effect positive change in the country while also becoming sustainable business leaders who develop impactful solutions.