In a grand finale brimming with excitement, Team Pharmacode from the University of Lagos emerged as winner of the AFRETEC-UNILAG Innovation-in-Health Challenge 2025, triumphing over thirteen other teams from universities across Nigeria.
The Old Great Hall, College of Medicine (CMUL), ldi-Araba, venue of the Grand Finale of the AFRETEC-UNILAG Innovation-in-Health Challenge 2025 was a potpourri of students from nine (9) Universities across Nigeria – Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE); Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH); McPherson University; Thomas Adewunmi University, Kwara; University of Benin (UNIBEN); University of Ibadan (UI); University of Jos (UNIJOS); University of Lagos (UNILAG) and University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED).
Team Pharmacode (UNILAG) secured the top spot with its innovation “Nutritec Ai” smiling home with a whooping sum of two million naira (N2,000,000). Nutritec Ai is an at-home saliva-based MammaGlobin test strip and web app which helps women aged 25-55 detect breast cancer risk quickly, affordably and painlessly, as well as provide personalized nutritional advice and hospital links immediately.
The judges were wowed by the team’s convenient (home-based), easy-to-use and affordable solution, which is science-backed [combines protein biomarker + genetic risk testing (BRCA)]; non-invasive; easily accessible as it has a USSD feature for rural dwellers without internet access; and tailored to the African market even with genetic diversity, amidst other features.
Team MedPatch (Thomas Adewunmi University, Kwara) emerged second, carting home 1.5 million naira (N1, 500,000) with its innovation: a wearable Micro-Needle Patch powered by AI for early disease detection and monitoring in Africa, while Team EmergiBridge (UNILAG) took third (3rd) place, taking home one million naira (N1, 000, 000) with its AI-powered Smart Triage and real-time referral web application, “EmergiBridge”, designed to seamlessly connect hospitals and optimize bed allocation for critically ill patients.
Other participating teams presented impressive projects, including: AidCare (UNILAG), AutoDetect (LAUTECH), AutoMed (LAUTECH), Imago AI (UNIBEN), Mindful Discipline (UNIJOS), PayG (McPherson University), Pulse+ (University of Ibadan), RuralPhysio (UNIMED), ScriptSafe (UNILAG), SmartCare (FUPRE) and VivaMoms (UNILAG).
The winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges comprising Dr. Adebanke Odunsi (Head, Digital Health at the Lagos State Ministry of Health); Mr. Abiola Oshunniyi [Technical Advisor to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Program Manager for the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)]; Dr. Omobosola Asuni (former Head, Public Health and Partnerships, Africa, Helium Health); and Ms. Stephanie Okpere [Head, Design for Health Practice, Co-creation HUB (CcHUB)].
Keynote Address: Exploring Digital Health Frontiers
Beyond the competition, AFRETEC-UNILAG Innovation-in-Health Challenge 2025 served as a platform for the presentation of a compelling keynote address by the Head of Communications, African Business Coalition for Health (ABCHealth), Mr. Adekunle Dalton-Oke.
The presentation titled Exploring Digital Health Frontiers: Opportunities for Researchers and Innovators highlighted the poor state of the healthcare system in Africa; key healthcare challenges; and digital health as a solution. Mr. Dalton-Oke also discussed the role of digital health to critical stakeholders; the digital health eco-system and the opportunities contained therein.
He rounded off his presentation with how ABCHealth works to improve health incomes by bridging the gap between critical stakeholders and building capacity across Africa’s health value chain.
The Innovation-in-Health Challenge also featured remarks by the CMUL Provost, Prof. Ademola Oremosu in his capacity as Provost and representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS. The Director of Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe Centre for Information Technology and Systems (ABS-CITS), Prof. M.O.H. Amuda, representative of AFRETEC-UNILAG Chairman, Prof. Ismail Ibraheem, gave a brief on Afretec-UNILAG, while the Acting Director of Innovation and Technology Management Office, UNILAG, Dr. Olayinka Adewumi gave insights on the Innovation-in-Health Challenge initiative.
According to Dr. Adewumi, the competition attracted one hundred and two (102) applications from three hundred and thirty nine (339) students across twenty four (24) universities. She explained that the initiative which got valuable academic and partnership support from organisations such as ABCHealth included a Young Innovators’ Forum created to support young innovator-applicants in their innovation journey featuring top health-tech entrepreneurs,and a special MATLAB webinar on Developing your Innovative Solution with MATLAB.
AFRETEC-UNILAG Innovation-in-Health Challenge
Funded by AFRETEC and coordinated by the Innovation and Technology Management Office (ITMO), UNILAG in collaboration with College of Medicine, UNILAG; the Innovation-in-Health Challenge was launched in March 2025.
It aims to encourage multidisciplinary student-teams from Nigerian universities to develop innovative and scalable solutions to critical healthcare challenges facing Africa.
Report: Ndidi J. Odinikaeze
Photographs: Joshua Michael
Editor: Joke Alaga-Ibraheem
