Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) have emerged first and third at the inaugural National Undergraduate Industry-Based Engineering Research Competition sponsored by Dangote Cement.
At the grand finale held at the University of Lagos on July 28, 2026, Team Zenith, comprising three final-year FUTA students—Oluwaferanmi Oladepo of Information and Communication Engineering, Nunsi Shiaki of Computer Engineering, and Adejire Adegite of Electrical and Electronics Engineering—won the top prize.
Team Data Knights, comprising Faith Alabetutu and Samuel Abayomi, both 400-level students of the Department of Computer Engineering, secured third position, while a team from the University of Lagos finished second. Teams from the University of Ibadan also participated in the competition.
The competition was organised by the University of Lagos Engineering Society Academic & Research Board under the aegis of Dangote Cement Plc.
Team Zenith impressed the judges with a research-backed early-warning system designed to detect equipment faults by simultaneously monitoring machine vibration and electrical signals before they develop into costly breakdowns.
Team Data Knights secured third position with a data-driven optimisation model demonstrating how Dangote’s plants can increase their use of alternative fuels for energy generation. The model was supported by more than 230 screened research sources and audited plant data from Dangote.
The organisers received more than 360 applications from across the country at the initial stage, with only six teams selected to pitch their projects before the judges at the grand finale. Two of the three top-performing teams came from FUTA.
Team Zenith’s victory adds to its recent achievements in engineering and artificial intelligence research. The team had earlier secured a prominent position in the third edition of the Industrial Electronics Society Generative IEEE IES AI Challenge.
The team’s competition project will be developed into a peer-reviewed research paper, which Team Zenith is expected to present at the IEEE International Conference on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (IRAI 2026) in Melbourne, Australia, later this year.
Receiving members of Team Zenith in her office on Thursday, August 6, 2026, FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, described the students’ achievements as “heartwarming” and another demonstration of the quality of the University’s students.
The Vice-Chancellor received the team alongside Daniel Segun Akinyiwola, a Year III Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) student who won second position in the Tertiary Essay Category of the 2026 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Literary Competition.
“Thank you for making us proud. FUTA is the leading University of Technology in Nigeria, and we have the data to prove this. Your achievement is a testament to how effective we are as an institution,” Professor Oladiji said.
She commended the students for their competitive spirit and determination to excel, noting that their success had brought honour to themselves and the University.
“I applaud your spirit for putting yourselves up for competition. It is a remarkable spirit, and you have earned a place on our honour roll,” she added.
Professor Oladiji reiterated the University’s commitment to advancing Artificial Intelligence research and innovation, recalling that FUTA’s founding fathers envisioned an institution that would combine agriculture, engineering and technology to address societal challenges.
She said AI had become indispensable to the future of teaching, research and national development and stressed the need for its integration across all disciplines in the University.
“We must make Artificial Intelligence part of our University. We will use you as ambassadors to advocate for the establishment of a Centre for Artificial Intelligence because you have demonstrated what is possible through innovation. You have made us proud,” she said.
The Team Zenith members thanked the University Management for its support and encouragement, pledging to continue pursuing innovative research that would contribute to national development and further strengthen FUTA’s reputation as a leading university of technology in Nigeria.
