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By Chinenye Anuforo
The Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, in partnership with the National Universities Commission (NUC), has concluded the Grand Finale of the Coderina University Challenge (COUCH) 2025, showcasing some of the country’s most promising student-led technological innovations.
Held at the NUC Auditorium in Abuja, the event brought together senior government officials, university leaders, industry representatives and the ten finalist teams selected from more than 62 entries nationwide. This year’s edition, themed “Circular Economy Through Technology,” highlighted solutions addressing sustainability, waste management, energy transition and the circular economy.
Across keynote speeches, guests reiterated the need for Nigeria to accelerate the conversion of university research into market-ready products, describing innovation commercialization as critical to national development and economic growth.
Chairman of the Coderina Board of Directors, Mr. Olufemi Niyi, said student research must not remain buried in archives, noting that COUCH has demonstrated how university projects can evolve into functional innovations. He urged investors, development partners and private-sector players to support the programme as a national pipeline for youth-led technology development.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu, commended COUCH for advancing the ministry’s goal of moving research from the shelves to the marketplace. He said the initiative exemplifies the collaboration required to unlock Nigeria’s scientific and technological potential. The minister highlighted priority areas including coordinated innovation frameworks, expanded digital technology adoption and the creation of opportunities for young innovators.
Tochukwu also announced a N5 million donation to Team Waste2Light of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and pledged to work with all ten finalist universities to support the commercialization of their solutions.
Executive secretary of the NUC, Mallam Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, acknowledged the twelve universities nominated for the pilot edition and encouraged finalists to use their prize money to further their entrepreneurial and technical capacity, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to innovation-driven learning.
Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Kolade Fasua, said technology remains the strongest driver of global economic growth and stressed that Nigeria’s transformation depends on youth innovation. He called for broader visibility for COUCH, the creation of an innovation archive, and stronger structures to translate research into commercial products.
Vice-chancellor of Nasarawa State University and special guest, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, speaking on sustainable national transformation, emphasized the need for enhanced industry–university collaboration, digital literacy in emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain, and inclusive innovation to serve underserved communities. She identified AI as a key tool for reimagining teaching, learning and curriculum development.
In the competition’s technical category, Team IMSU from Imo State University emerged overall winner, receiving ₦5 million. Team Neuronaut from Nile University placed second with ₦2.5 million, while Team Waste2Light from FUT Minna came third with ₦1.5 million.
For the People’s Choice Awards, determined by public voting and social media engagement, Team ADSU Innovators of Adamawa State University won ₦250,000. Team Scraplink of Lagos State University came second with ₦150,000, while Team Circle from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, placed third with ₦100,000.
Project Lead, Ms. Christiana Anthony, noted that COUCH is designed not just as a competition but as a structured innovation development programme, supported by Coderina and the NUC to help students build and pitch commercially viable solutions.
