A Senior Lecturer at Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, Dr Jide Ebenezer Taiwo Akinsola, has emerged a winner at the NextGen Innovation Challenge London, United Kingdom, with a solution on Artificial Intelligence for Monitoring Hormonal Endocrine and Reproductive Health (AIMHER).
Dr. JET, as he is fondly called, represented Nigeria at the grand finale held in the UK from 7 to 11 October 2026 and won the Best Research Innovation Award category.
The challenge was organised by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, in partnership with UKALD, London.
Three thousand (3,000) innovators/entries were first screened during the National Showcase in Nigeria on 6 August 2026, and Akinsola was among the 70 candidates shortlisted to compete at the Grand Finale.
He received the award at the Exhibition Centre, London (ExCeL), the venue where a dinner was also held.
“I received the award in person in London, presented by Dr Olusola Odusanya, Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Technology Management. I emerged as one of the winners of the Best Research Innovation of the Year Award, and was separately presented with a certificate of Award of Excellence by NBTI in recognition of my innovation’s contribution to Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem,” JET said.
Departure from Nigeria to London
According to the scholar, the trip was sponsored by the NBTI, covering his return flights, accommodation and meals, with logistical visa-application support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an official introduction letter to the British High Commission confirming selection and sponsorship.
JET further noted, “Having cleared the National Showcase screening in Nigeria on 6 August 2026 and received NBTI’s formal sponsorship confirmation on 26 August 2026, I departed Nigeria on 6th October 2026 as part of the Nigerian delegation of innovators travelling to represent the country at the Grand Finale. On arrival in London, I was briefed about the requirements for deck pitching and what collaborator and partners were likely to be interested in which facilitated my preparation for my final presentation materials for the Artificial Intelligent-Powered Digital Platform for Monitoring Women’s Health (PCOS) and to review the Grand Finale’s format alongside fellow shortlisted innovators from across Nigeria.
“The day marked my transition from the national screening stage to the international stage. I joined 69 other innovators, drawn from over 3,000 applicants nationwide, gathering in London carrying the weight of representing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem on a global platform.”
Grand Finale at ExCeL London and Award
On Friday, 9 October 2026, Akinsola took part in the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 Grand Finale and Executive Business Dinner, held at the Exhibition Centre, London (ExCeL).
He recalled: “I joined the 70 shortlisted innovators in presenting my project, an Artificial Intelligence-Powered Digital Platform for Monitoring Women’s Health (PCOS), to judges and an audience of investors, policymakers, and innovation stakeholders from Nigeria and the UK.
“My presentation highlighted the platform’s use of artificial intelligence to support early detection and ongoing monitoring of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects a significant share of women of reproductive age and is frequently under-diagnosed. Judges assessed my innovation’s technical depth, originality, and potential impact on Nigeria’s, Africa’s as well as the global healthcare ecosystem.”
At the close of the Grand Finale, Akinsola made the final 18 (eighteen) innovators selected for collaboration scaling.
“I was invited for one-on-one personal pitching to the group of investors for collaboration and partnership for scaling into four countries. I was announced as one of the winners of the Best Research Innovation of the Year award. The Executive Business Dinner that followed brought together NBTI, UKALD, and the Nigerian innovators for a formal evening of recognition, networking, and reflection on the two-day outcome. I was also separately presented an Award of Excellence certificate, signed by Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General/CEO of NBTI, recognising my ‘outstanding innovation, creativity, and valuable contribution to advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem,” JET enthused.
Significance and Outlook
On the significance of the project and the award, the researcher noted that they underscored the platform’s technical merit and its relevance to an underserved area of women’s health.
Akinsola added, “My win places Artificial Intelligence for Monitoring Hormonal Endocrine and Reproduction Health (AIMHER Health) and my Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)-monitoring platform among the top-recognised innovations to emerge from NBTI’s 2026 screening of over 3,000 applicants nationwide, and marks one of Nigeria’s standout results at this inaugural London edition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge. The award reflects both my platform’s technical merit and its relevance to an underserved area of women’s health in Nigeria, across Africa and the entire globe.
“The NBTI has framed the Grand Finale as a step toward stronger Nigeria-UK collaboration in innovation and technology incubation, with UKALD as a vital partner in the challenge’s conception and execution. For AIMHER Health and me, this recognition is expected to support continued development of the platform, visibility with policymakers I met in London, and AIMHER Health’s broader mission of improving women’s health outcomes through AI-powered digital tools.”
Akinsola further stated that he had secured copyright and trademark for the platform.
