A student of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, Oluwatayo Ayodele Michael, has won international recognition for an innovation that turns agricultural waste into a solution for industrial water pollution.
Michael, of the Department of Physiotherapy, was named a recipient of the NBTI NextGen Innovator Award at an international showcase held at ExCeL London, United Kingdom.
He won for UniThread EcoHusk, a technology that converts discarded cocoa pod husks into biochar-based filtration materials for treating textile wastewater.
According to a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Isaac Oluyi, the innovation offers a sustainable way to reduce harmful pollutants before they reach rivers and other water bodies. It tackles environmental contamination at its source.
Oluyi added that by promoting cleaner water and healthier communities, the technology could also reduce exposure to pollution-related health risks.
He said the showcase drew hundreds of innovators, policymakers, investors, industry stakeholders and government dignitaries. They included the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, and the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina.
Representatives of the Commonwealth Investment Network and the British High Commission were also present.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, congratulated Michael and described the award as a proud moment for the university. She said it reflects the ingenuity, creativity and problem-solving capacity of Nigerian youths.
“We are immensely proud of Oluwatayo Ayodele Michael for this outstanding achievement. Winning the NBTI NextGen Innovator Award on an international platform in London demonstrates that the ingenuity of our young people can produce solutions capable of addressing critical challenges facing humanity.”
She noted that UniThread EcoHusk shows the importance of research, creativity and innovation in tackling environmental challenges and protecting public health.
“Michael has demonstrated how locally available resources can be transformed into solutions that promote cleaner water, healthier communities, and a more sustainable environment. This is the kind of creative, impact-driven thinking we encourage among our students and researchers at UNIMED,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellor also urged students and young researchers to embrace interdisciplinary collaboration, entrepreneurship and research-driven innovation. She stressed that universities have a vital role to play in solving local and global challenges.
She reaffirmed UNIMED’s commitment to academic excellence, research and innovation that turns knowledge into practical benefits for society.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
