STEM Africa honours OAU trio, Management awards scholarships to competition champions

By Samuel Faseyitan and Olarenwaju Lawal

Stem Africa, in partnership with MTN Nigeria, honours the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Trio: Imran Ogungbayi, Quayum Ali, and Lekan Adesina, who won the 2026 edition of the University Duel and the Smart Challenge competition.

Background

Earlier in March 2026, the school press outlet, ACJOAU reported that the trio won the 2026 edition of the Smart University duel, securing victory for OAU after a dominant win over Futa. The University Duel is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) annual contest among top higher institutions where outstanding undergraduates collaborate and compete in critical thinking, problem solving, analytics, sustainable environments, general knowledge, and innovations.

Also in May, the trio secured another win for OAU in the STEM Africa SMART Challenge after competing against top universities across the country to develop a technologically innovative project to address pressing governmental and societal challenges.

STEM Africa in Partnership with MTN Celebrates OAU Stars

The event, held in the university’s famous Oduduwa Hall, was attended by the university management, the STEM Africa team, representatives of MTN Nigeria, and students of the university, who gathered to celebrate the superstars.

The students were presented with awards and cash prizes by the founder of STEM Africa, Oludapo Ojo, who commended the three outstanding students for their performance, noting that they have emerged as the best out of 1568 students representing 62 universities in the competition.

The three stars were given certificates of participation and a cash prize of three million naira for winning the Duel competition. Similarly, a million naira of the Smart Challenge win was also given to their faculty for innovative development, while Quayum Ali won the overall best performance in the competition. The vice chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, was also presented with a plaque (a piece of memorabilia, the jersey won by the students at the competition) and a golden trophy.

Management Honours OAU’s STEM Champions

In his welcome address, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor John Odedire, appreciated everyone for coming to witness the great occasion and celebrate the OAU superstars. Commenting on the resilient spirit of Great Ife, Professor Odedire remarked that ‘Even though the school finished as the second runner-up in the last edition, the doggedness and resilient spirit of the team earned them a victory at last, and, as a result, OAU became the first institution to win both the University Duel and the Smart Challenge competition in the same year.’ He encouraged students present to emulate the trio and maintained that the seed of success and greatness is in everyone.

Similarly, the vice-chancellor, while appreciating the STEM Africa team, principal officers of the university, and the awardees, stated that the school’s motto is not only “learning and culture” but also noted other remarkable components the school is reputed for, such as winning medals.

Professor Bamire, on behalf of the entire school management, awarded a scholarship to the three outstanding students for their excellent performance at the two competitions, while presenting a token to the students in appreciation of their excellent performance.

The consultant of STEM Africa, who’s an alumna of the university, Dr Ore Sofekun, speaking on the win, said that ‘the university Duel competition comprises knowledge in STEM areas including digital analytics, verbal reasoning, mathematics, and general knowledge, and the smart challenge tested how the participants can apply STEM in solving problems in society.’

Dr Ore, reinforcing the need to celebrate the students, stated that the win in both categories demonstrated that the students did not just know science but also understood how to apply it, as they had to come up with two different ideas of applying technology to solve societal issues within the space of six months.

While calling for participants for the 2027 edition of the competition, she added that ‘the trio will not be able to participate in other editions, as winners are not allowed to participate again; however, the platform is open, and registration is ongoing for the 2027 season, and all students are implored to apply.’

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Conversely, a representative of MTN Nigeria, Dolapo Adegoke, in her speech, applauded the students for carrying the institution’s banner with pride and excelling in STEM to demonstrate the excellence OAU is known for. She also noted that ‘Winning is not the end; it’s the beginning, and the true mark of a champion is not the trophy lifted at the end of a contest but what they do the morning after.’

She urged the trio never to allow their drive to be extinguished, as Nigeria needs them not just as students but as experts in the areas of STEM who will contribute meaningfully to the growth of the nation, and that MTN Nigeria is committed to investing in such an initiative, as the future of the telecommunication industry lies in the hands of young people.

A Call for Wider Participation

Quayum Ali, speaking with ACJOAU, expresses his delight at the outstanding achievement, saying that the success was a testament to the support given by the school management and everyone who cheered them to victory. Stating further, Quayum advised students to take advantage of the good initiative, urging them to participate in the competition to connect with brilliant minds outside the four walls of the university.

For more student participation in the competition, Quayum advised the management to engage students more to pique their interest.

Lekan Adesina, building on this, appreciated the school management and students for their support and encouragement, while admonishing students, particularly females, to show interest and participate in the competition.