The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has continued to strengthen its position as one of Nigeria’s leading innovation-driven universities after eight of its student innovators emerged winners in the Federal Government-sponsored Student Venture Capital Grant programme.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, hosted the beneficiaries and other student innovators during a special meet-and-greet session held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Conference Room of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.
The gathering brought together student entrepreneurs, university officials, and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education to celebrate the achievements of the students and discuss the growing culture of innovation and enterprise development within the institution.
The recognition comes after a highly competitive national selection process that attracted more than 30,000 applications across Nigeria. Only 45 innovators were selected nationwide, with eight winners coming from UNILAG.
The beneficiaries from the University include Samuel Olamilekan Johnson of WalterSam Global Technologies Ltd, Ted Bankong of Rewear, Ajie Divine Favour of StocMed, Umar-Faruq Adeshina of Wekoya, Oluwatosin Adeyemo of Oju Systems, Ekundayo David of Run-It Global Innovations, Victor Olubukola of CampusShelf, and Sheriffdeen Ademoye of Quad Stores.
Former Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC), Professor Sunday Adebisi, described the achievement as evidence that the University’s long-term investment in entrepreneurship education and innovation development is beginning to produce visible results.
Speaking during the session, Adebisi said UNILAG’s progress in innovation did not happen overnight, adding that many of the structures currently producing successful innovators were initiated nearly a decade ago.
“Your investment in student entrepreneurship and innovation over the past ten years has started yielding fruits,” he told the Vice-Chancellor.
He also linked the University’s current innovation culture to initiatives introduced during Professor Ogunsola’s tenure as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), noting that the institution has consistently positioned itself among universities promoting enterprise and problem-solving education.
Beyond the local achievements, Adebisi also highlighted the performance of students from the Master’s in Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Management (EDIM) programme who recently represented the University at an AFRETEC programme in Rwanda.
One of the students, Fajembola Ademola, secured a $75,000 grant for his innovation, while another student-led insurance solution reportedly attracted interest from a Nigerian company for possible adoption.
The EDIM students who represented UNILAG in Rwanda include Fajembola Ademola, Anuoluwapo Somoye, Agbato Michael, and Afolabi Sowande.
Also present at the event was the Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, who praised the University for creating an environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among students.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Onigbanjo said the Federal Government sees Nigerian youths as central to the country’s future economic growth and technological development.
“The President and Honourable Minister are completely convinced that the future of Nigeria is in your hands as youths,” he said.
“Nigeria truly believes in you, and the fifty million naira grant you have won is evidence of that confidence.”
He further noted that solutions capable of succeeding within Nigeria’s complex operating environment often possess the potential to scale across other African markets.
The current Director of the ESDC, Dr. Oladimeji Odetunde, also used the opportunity to outline plans to deepen innovation culture across more disciplines within the University.
According to him, many innovation-focused projects and grant-winning ideas have traditionally emerged from Engineering and Science-related backgrounds, but the Centre now intends to encourage stronger participation from students in the Humanities and other non-technical fields.
Responding to the students, Professor Ogunsola described their achievements as a major source of pride for the institution and proof that deliberate investment in innovation education can produce long-term impact.
“From where I sit, I am extremely proud of the University of Lagos,” she said.
“I am blown away by your approach to the issues your ideas addressed because I can see they emerged from interacting with your environment.”
The Vice-Chancellor explained that UNILAG deliberately began promoting innovation, design thinking, and entrepreneurship nearly ten years ago after recognising that traditional academic models alone could no longer fully prepare students for life after graduation.
“When we started, we did not know exactly how to do it, but we believed we would succeed. Today, ten years later, you all stand as successful testimonies of that institutional belief,” she said.
She also encouraged the students to remain resilient as they build their ventures, noting that entrepreneurship comes with setbacks, uncertainty, and periods of adjustment.
“You are going to face hard times. Entrepreneurship is not easy. Some of you will be tempted to give up, while others may pivot, but what is certain is that you will emerge as people who create value and will never remain the same,” Ogunsola added.
The latest achievement adds to the growing profile of UNILAG as one of the Nigerian universities increasingly producing startup founders, innovators, and technology-driven entrepreneurs capable of attracting both local and international recognition.
