LASU Engineering Student Secures ₦50 Million National Venture Capital Grant for Housing Innovation

Lagos State University (LASU) has achieved a historic milestone as Mr. Taiwo Goodness Ukwedje, a 300-level Electronic and Computer Engineering student, secured a ₦50 million Student Venture Capital Grant. This victory marks the university's second ₦50 million national award in just weeks, following a similar feat by a student from the LASU College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

The Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, formally received Mr. Ukwedje and a delegation from the Epe Campus at the Senate Building on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Mr. Ukwedje’s winning innovation, ‘D-Rentals,’ is a verified housing platform engineered to eliminate accommodation fraud—a major challenge for Nigerian students. The secure system connects users directly with verified landlords and is set for a full-scale launch in the upcoming academic session.

Presenting his award certificate to the Vice-Chancellor, Ukwedje credited the university's supportive environment for the success of his venture, which emerged top from a pool of over 30,000 applicants nationwide.

Prof. K.F.K. Oyedeko (Dean, Faculty of Engineering): Noted that the grant reflects the high-quality technical training provided by the faculty, enabling students to compete and win at the highest national levels.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Olatunji-Bello congratulated the recipient, describing the back-to-back ₦50 million wins as proof of LASU’s transformation into a hub for world-class entrepreneurship. "This is a strong testament to the quality of education and mentorship we provide," she stated, urging Ukwedje to deploy the capital strategically to scale his solution.

The event featured a high-level delegation of professors and senior administrators, concluding with a vote of thanks by Senior Deputy Registrar, Mr. Samuel Otesanya.