Redeemer’s University Makes History as they Host Africa’s First Genomics Hackathon Powered by XR and AI

Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, has made history by hosting the first-ever extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) powered genomics hackathon on the African continent.

The groundbreaking event, tagged IGH XR&AI Genomics Hackathon 2025, was held at the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (IGH) from August 4 to 22, with its grand finale—“Demo Day”—which took place on Friday, August 22.

The hackathon, organised by IGH (formerly the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, ACEGID), was designed to make genomics education more immersive, practical, and engaging by integrating XR and AI technologies into learning and research.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, described the event as a landmark in African science and technology.

“Today we are not just witnessing the end of a journey, but the beginning of a new era in Africa’s scientific and technological advancement,” he said. “For the past three weeks, several contestants have participated in this hackathon. Particularly in the last one week, 20 of the brightest young minds from across Africa have worked intensively at IGH, exploring the transformative intersection of extended reality, artificial intelligence and genomics.”

He emphasized that the mission was “to pioneer solutions to pressing health and scientific challenges facing our continent and the world,” while expressing pride in Redeemer’s University for leading such a first-of-its-kind initiative in Africa.

IGH Director, Professor Christian Happi, echoed the significance of the event in his welcome note, calling it “a pivotal moment in our collective mission to harness cutting-edge technologies for advancing genomic research and addressing pressing healthcare challenges in Africa and beyond.”

The hackathon attracted hundreds of applications across Africa. From these, about 200 participants were shortlisted and engaged in a two-week intensive remote phase. The top 20 participants, selected for their exceptional contributions and ideas, advanced to the final one-week onsite phase at IGH, where they received mentorship and hands-on exposure to XR and genomics innovation.

These 20 finalists were formally welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor a day before the onsite program commenced.

One of the finalists, Francisca Mbanwusi, described the experience as transformative:

“Three things stood out for me. The first is the level of clarity we’ve gained in our skillsets, which has helped me see what is possible in my career. The second is the brilliance of the professionals at IGH—truly inspiring. Finally, the hackathon has stretched my capacity in ways I never imagined. There is nowhere else I could have gotten this experience.”

The hackathon tasked participants with developing VR-based tools and experiences to improve the teaching and application of genomics—from simulating biological processes to building interactive educational platforms. The initiative was particularly targeted at closing the gap in African genomics education, where many students and professionals face limited access to practical training due to resource constraints in laboratories and classrooms.

By exposing participants to XR and AI in genomics, IGH aimed to bridge the divide between theory and practice, preparing a new generation of African scientists and innovators to lead in diagnostics, disease monitoring, and global health.

The event is expected to lay the foundation for wider adoption of XR and AI technologies in education and research across the continent, further positioning Redeemer’s University and IGH as pioneers in cutting-edge scientific innovation in Africa.