FUTA Students and Alumni Excel at 2024 Future Cities - Africa Green Building Summit
The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) excelled at the 2024 Future Cities - Africa Green Building Summit in Lagos. Hosted by the Green Building Council of Nigeria, the event included the inaugural Youth Empowerment Exchange (YEE).
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) made a remarkable impact at the 2024 Future Cities - Africa Green Building Summit held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Hosted by the Green Building Council of Nigeria (GBCN) in collaboration with the Africa Regional Network of Green Building Councils, the summit brought together delegates from across Africa, including the leadership of the World Green Building Council.
A significant highlight of the summit was the inaugural Youth Empowerment Exchange (YEE), which inspired Nigerian youths to collaborate and develop innovative solutions aligned with the Africa Manifesto for Sustainable Cities. The theme of the summit, “Building Resilient Futures: Integrating Carbon Neutrality, Circular Economy, and Inclusive Urban Development,” set the stage for this initiative.
Out of 36 participants selected nationwide, FUTA had the highest representation with eight undergraduate students and alumni. These participants were grouped into nine teams, each tackling distinct innovation challenges related to sustainable urban development across five priority areas: Energy, Water, Materials, Finance, and Infrastructure.
FUTA participants distinguished themselves with their innovation, leadership, and excellence, earning several awards. Individual accolades included:
- Ayomipo George from the Urban & Regional Planning Department (Class of 2022) won the MVP (Most Valuable Personnel) Award for his exceptional leadership and team spirit.
- Akintola Oladoyin Abidemi from the Quantity Surveying Department (500L) received the Most Supportive Team Member Award for her motivational and engaging contributions to her team's success.
- Abdullahi Oyelakin from the Physics Department (Class of 2022) was honored with the Best Team Lead Award for his outstanding leadership and commitment.
- Emmanuel Ola-Olowoyo, a graduate of the Agric. Economics & Extension Department, earned the Top Team Mentorship Award for his guidance and support.
Other notable FUTA participants included Seun Daodu (Quantity Surveying, 500L), Adekoya Omorinsola Lydia (Building Technology, 500L), Ikechukwu Franklin Ogbu (Architecture, Class of 2022), Orekoya Hussein Oluwadamilare (Civil Engineering, Class of 2016, now a master's student at UC Berkeley), and Adetoyin Adedeji (Meteorology and Climate Science, Class of 2016).
In the team and innovation awards:
- Adekoya Omorinsola’s Team 5B won the 2nd Best Innovation Award for their eco-friendly permeable pavers using recycled materials.
- Akintola Oladoyin Abidemi’s team secured the 3rd Best Innovation Award for their low-space steam water reservoir energy system.
- Abdullahi Oyelakin and Seun Daodu’s Team 1b achieved 4th place in the innovation award for their off-grid energy solutions for rural communities and won the Most Strategic Team Award.
The three FUTA teams showcased their innovative ideas during the summit's Innovation Showcase, receiving validation from both local and international delegates and organizations.
READ ALSO: FUTA Alumnus, Pamilerin Deborah Adedeji, Bags Master’s Degree from UK Varsity
As a testament to their outstanding participation, each FUTA representative was granted Individual Student Membership of the Green Building Council of Nigeria (GBCN), further encouraging their contributions to sustainable urban development in Africa.
