FUTA Students Clinch Podium Finish at Deep Learning Indaba 2025 in Rwanda

The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has once again proven its leadership in technology and innovation on the African stage as its student team, DSN AI+ FUTA, secured third place at the Deep Learning Indaba 2025 Community Challenge held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The team’s project, CLEANSIGHT—an AI-powered platform that verifies community cleanups, rewards participation, and maps waste hotspots—earned them a podium finish and a $1,000 cash prize.

The project was presented with clarity and vision by Oluwaferanmi Oladepo, a 400-level student of Information and Communication Engineering, who led the team in showcasing the solution’s potential for environmental sustainability across Africa. Oluwaferanmi was joined by Nunsi Shiaki, a 400-level Computer Engineering student; Godswill Amos, a 200-level Computer Engineering student; and final-year Computer Science students Abisoye Durojaiye and Agbaje Ayomipo. Together, they developed CLEANSIGHT as a response to one of Africa’s pressing environmental challenges, and their creativity, teamwork, and innovation distinguished them among continental peers.

The competition was highly competitive, with more than 130 project submissions received from across Africa. From this pool, only five teams advanced to the final stage, where they presented live before a distinguished panel of experts, scholars, and innovators. FUTA’s placement among the top three underscores the University’s rising reputation as a hub for world-class research and innovation.

The Deep Learning Indaba is widely recognized as the largest annual gathering of Artificial Intelligence researchers and practitioners in Africa, and one of the most respected convenings of AI talent globally. It brings together graduate students, industry leaders, and researchers with the aim of advancing cutting-edge research, strengthening capacity, and ensuring Africa’s voice in the global AI space. FUTA’s success at this prestigious event reflects the University’s growing role in shaping the continent’s technological landscape.

This accomplishment represents more than just a prize; it is a milestone moment for FUTA and for Nigeria. It demonstrates the University’s mission of producing graduates who are globally competitive, socially conscious, and ready to drive innovation that addresses both local and global challenges. By standing on the Indaba stage and securing a podium finish, FUTA students have affirmed the institution’s place at the forefront of African innovation.