A Nigerian undergraduate, Covenant Awoyemi, has won the Best Research Innovation of the Year award at the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 held in London, United Kingdom.
Awoyemi, a 400-level Nursing student at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, earned the recognition after emerging from a competitive selection process that began with thousands of participants across Nigeria.
The university announced her achievement on Monday, congratulating the student for her performance at the international competition, which took place from October 7 to 11, 2026.
According to the institution, Awoyemi advanced to the London grand finale after participating in a national innovation programme, where she represented Ogun State at a showcase in Abuja alongside more than 2,900 participants.
She was among 70 candidates shortlisted for the final stage of the competition, where her research innovation earned her the top award in the category.
The student’s project centres on a biodigester appliance designed to convert livestock waste into biogas, a renewable energy source that can be used for cooking and other domestic energy needs.
The innovation offers a potential solution to two environmental challenges by providing an alternative source of energy while helping to manage animal waste.
It also highlights the role of young Nigerian researchers in developing practical ideas around sustainable energy.
Awoyemi’s achievement adds to the growing recognition of Nigerian students participating in international innovation programmes, while showcasing the research potential of undergraduates in the country’s tertiary institutions.
