FUTA Students Shine at National Technology Challenge with Innovative Waste Management Project

Students from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) have brought national recognition to the university by winning the 3rd Most Popular Team Award at the Coderina University Challenge (COUCH) Finals held in Abuja.

Competing as Team Circle, the students earned ₦100,000 in prize money, award plaques for the university, and certificates of participation.

The team recently visited the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, to formally present the plaques and a dummy cheque representing their prize. They were accompanied by Professor Ganiyu Oboh, Director of the University’s Centre for Space Research and Application (CESRA).

Team Circle’s award-winning project, CIRCLE (Community Incentivized Recycling for a Cleaner Environment), is a technology-driven solution aimed at improving waste management in Nigeria. The system incorporates IoT-enabled smart bins for sorting and weighing waste, a data-driven platform to optimize collection routes, and a mobile app that rewards users with points redeemable for cash or airtime when they recycle.

Selected from 66 university teams nationwide in April 2025, Team Circle advanced through multiple technical and business assessment stages to reach the Grand Finale. They were one of only two teams representing the South-West region and the only federal university from the area to make it to the final stage.

At the presentation, Professor Oladiji praised the students’ creativity, determination, and commitment to innovation, describing their success as a reflection of FUTA’s focus on technological advancement. She encouraged the team to further develop CIRCLE to contribute meaningfully to environmental sustainability in Nigeria.

Professor Oboh highlighted the value of the competition in providing mentorship, practical learning opportunities, and exposure that would enhance the students’ entrepreneurial and technological skills.

Team Circle consists of five students from diverse departments: Oduola Ayobami Andrew (Computer Science – Team Lead), Uwagbale David Oluwatimilehin (Computer Science), Nwankwo Samuel Chukwumuanya (Information Technology), Ajayi Emmanuel Odunayo (Surveying and Geo-informatics), and Adekunle Christianah Ayomide (Computer Science).

The students plan to pilot five to ten smart recycling bins on the FUTA campus and launch a beta version of the mobile application, aiming to turn their innovative concept into a practical, scalable solution for effective waste management.

This achievement not only underscores the students’ ingenuity but also demonstrates FUTA’s commitment to fostering innovation and providing platforms for technological solutions that address real-world challenges.