Awoyemi Covenant, a student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), has emerged as the winner of the Best Research Innovation of the Year award at the 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge Grand Finale in London, United Kingdom.
Awoyemi Covenant, a 400-level nursing student at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, represented Nigeria at the 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge, an international competition held from October 7 to 11, 2026.
OOU announced her achievement on its social media page, celebrating her performance at the competition.
The university said Covenant was “selected following her participation in the national innovation programme, where she represented Ogun State at the National Showcase held in Abuja with over 2,900 other participants.”
It added that “70 candidates were shortlisted for the grand finale in London, where Awoyemi Covenant emerged with the award of the Best Research Innovation of the Year.”
According to the university, Covenant’s achievement followed her participation in the national innovation programme, which attracted thousands of participants before the final selection for the London event.
The nursing student developed a biodigester appliance designed to convert livestock waste into biogas, a renewable energy source that can be used for cooking and other energy needs.
OOU’s announcement highlighted her academic background, identifying her as a “400-level nursing student” of the institution who “represented Nigeria at the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 Grand Finale, London, United Kingdom, from 7th October to 11th October 2026.”
Her innovation focuses on converting animal waste into useful energy, offering a potential approach to sustainable energy production and waste management.
