On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the PAULESI Centre of Excellence held its third Innovation Challenge, an event designed to showcase innovative, solution-driven ideas developed by African scholars and to strengthen the culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied research within the institute. In her opening remarks, the Director of the institute, Prof. Mubo A. Sonibare, emphasized the importance of innovation to the mission of the Pan African University, as it transforms academic knowledge into practical solutions for Africa's economic, social, and environmental issues, directly supporting Agenda 2063 and positioning PAU as a leader in African knowledge production and self-reliance.

This year's challenge marked the culmination of a series of training sessions focused on fostering innovation and developing marketable solutions for African problems. Starting with an initial pool of twelve ideas, nine viable concepts were developed, leading to the formation of nine innovation teams shortlisted based on their feasibility, desirability, and viability. These teams presented their proposed solutions to a wide audience and a distinguished seven-member panel drawn from both academia and industry, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive assessment. The academic panel included Prof. Oladapo Titus Okareh, the Director of Office of Intellectual Property Right and Innovation, University of Ibadan and an expert in environmental health and innovation; Prof. Olalekan John Taiwo, a scholar in geography and health-environment interactions; and Prof. Andrew Olu Fadoju, an innovation leader and Chairman of UIRESDEV. The industry panel comprised Engr. Olusola Oke, Manager of the UI Design Studio and Innovation Hub; Engr. Adebayo Afure Olubobokun, CEO of Impact Hub Ibadan; Mr. Praise Olaoluwa, a fintech founder and SME finance expert; and Ms. Vivian Nnabue, a communications professional and creative strategist at TechCabal.

The innovations presented offered a compelling vision for Africa's future. Imagine a continent where trash becomes a source of income through a circular economy around urban waste; a vital digital lifeline connects patients, pharmacies, and doctors in a unified system, eliminating the exhausting search for prescribed medications; a silent crisis of nutrition is being met with a delicious and smart response; safety receives a high-tech upgrade via a redefined personal protective equipment incorporating flexible solar panels, micro cooling fans, and communication systems; the search for a home, often fraught with uncertainty, is revolutionized through trust and technology; a continent-wide digital movement connects early careers to mentors, cultivating the next wave of African leaders and innovators; the kitchen is evolving with a dual-powered pot that harnesses solar and electric energy for faster and safer cooking; an agricultural application empowers farmers with expert knowledge, real-time market data, and direct access to buyers; natural cosmetic products helps reduce skin risks. These innovative solutions were developed by the nine teams: Waste Credit, ProxiMed, Vitapot DuoDelicacy, SolaKep Smart Helmet, Home Connect, Pathfinder, Eco-Chef Smart Rapid Cooking Pot, Agri2Door, and Cosmocare, whose projects represent tangible blueprints for a more sustainable, healthy, and empowered continent.

Having demonstrated outstanding innovation, strong problem-solution alignment, and high potential for impact and scalability, ProxiMed Solution, The Waste CreditSolution and HomeKonnect Africa were awarded first, second and third place, respectively. In recognition of their excellence and performance, cash awards of USD 1,300, USD 1,200, USD 1,100 were presented to the top three teams. Additionally, all nine participating teams, including the top three, received a cash award of USD 500 each in recognition of their participation and to support continued product development, refinement, and prototyping under the guidance of the PAULESI Centre of Excellence.

The journey for these teams, which began on June 18, 2025, with the identification of twelve initial ideas, which were streamlined into the nine final concepts has now resulted into the selection of three exceptional teams.  The Innovation Challenge embodied the principle of "African Solutions to African Problems," emphasizing local ownership and leadership in addressing the continent's challenges. These teams have gained not just financial support, but also invaluable feedback, mentorship, and strategic insights from a distinguished panel of judges, ensuring their solutions are robust and market-ready. The 2026 Innovation Challenge serves as a testament to PAULESI's unwavering commitment to fostering solution-driven research and empowering African scholars to turn their ideas into sustainable, real-world impacts. As these three winning teams advance into the next phase of product development and incubation, they are set to inspire change and drive progress in their communities and beyond.