Nigerian student bags global research innovation award in London

Awoyemi Covenant, a 400-level nursing student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun State, has won the Best Research Innovation of the Year award at the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 Grand Finale in London, United Kingdom, according to a report by The Punch.

​Representing Nigeria at the international competition held from October 7 to 11, 2026, Covenant triumphed following a rigorous national selection process. OOU announced her feat on social media, noting that she was selected after participating in a national innovation program in Abuja that drew over 2,900 contestants, from which 70 finalists were chosen for the London showcase.

​Covenant earned the prestigious global accolade by developing an innovative biodigester appliance designed to convert livestock waste into clean, renewable biogas for cooking and alternative energy needs. Her award-winning project provides a sustainable approach to waste management and eco-friendly energy production.

​University authorities lauded her academic dedication and ingenuity, celebrating how her groundbreaking research successfully placed Nigeria on the global innovation map.