OOU nursing student wins international award for waste-to-energy innovation

A 400-level nursing student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Covenant Ibukun Awoyemi, has won an international award in London, United Kingdom, for developing a biodigester appliance designed to convert livestock waste into renewable energy.

Awoyemi received the Best Research Innovation of the Year award at the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 Grand Finale held at ExCeL London.

The student represented Nigeria at the competition, which brought together innovators to showcase solutions to societal and environmental challenges.

According to OOU, Awoyemi advanced to the international event after representing Ogun State at the national selection programme in Abuja.

The university said the competition attracted more than 2,900 applications from across Nigeria with 70 candidates shortlisted for the grand finale in London.

Her project, known as the Green and Renewable Energy Biodigester, is designed to convert livestock waste into biogas, which can be used as a source of energy for cooking and other applications.

The innovation offers a potential way to manage agricultural waste while producing renewable energy, contributing to more sustainable waste management practices.

OOU celebrated Awoyemi’s achievement, describing it as a milestone for the institution and an example of the innovative potential of Nigerian students on the international stage.