The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have emerged winners of the 2026 Enactus Nigeria National Competition and will represent Nigeria at the Enactus World Cup in Brazil later this year.
FUTO secured a double victory, winning the Enactus Early Stage Final with its biofuel project and the Julius Berger Innovation Challenge with ALTAR, a robot designed to detect structural and construction failures.
ABU won the Enactus Advanced Stage Competition Final with NeemPest, an IAR-certified multi-modal biopesticide capable of eliminating Tuta absoluta within 48 hours, and TomPa, a tomato processing brand developed to convert surplus tomato harvests into long-lasting powder and puree.
The winning projects will compete against innovations from 35 countries for the global Enactus title.
The two universities emerged winners from projects presented by 33 other universities at the 2026 Enactus Nigeria National Competition Final, themed “Re-Imagining Transformation,” which was held in Lagos.
The projects were assessed based on their relevance, innovation, scalability, profitability potential and sustainability.
Speaking at the event, Michael Ajayi, Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, said the projects demonstrated the ingenuity and determination of Nigerian youths to address societal challenges.
He said the competition was the culmination of 12 months of work across 33 tertiary institutions, during which students identified social and environmental problems and developed business-driven solutions capable of creating value for communities.
Ajayi said Enactus would continue to nurture entrepreneurs, innovators, ethical leaders and changemakers who apply knowledge to solving real-world problems.
He added that the organisation was focused on preparing Nigerian youths to become resilient and value-driven leaders and sustainable business creators.
“If properly inspired, motivated and supported, Nigerian youths can be extremely productive, highly innovative and globally competitive,” he said.
Also speaking, Casey Bonfield, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General, Nigeria, commended Enactus Nigeria for helping students translate classroom knowledge into practical solutions to societal challenges.
Bonfield said exposing students to real-life problems and equipping them to develop workable solutions would prepare them for the global market, stressing that “building a future starts with building people.”
Shakira Mustapha, Risk and Sustainability Officer at Julius Berger Plc, said the company recognised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in shaping Nigeria’s future.
She said Julius Berger, in partnership with Enactus Nigeria, was supporting youth innovation and sustainable development by creating opportunities for students to develop practical solutions to challenges in the construction and built-environment sectors.
Mustapha stressed that achieving meaningful transformation in the construction industry would require fresh and environmentally sustainable ideas.
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<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>