Students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) have demonstrated their innovation and entrepreneurial potential at the GROW with AI 2026 programme, emerging in both second and third places in an Ideathon designed to challenge participants to develop practical solutions to real-world problems.
The programme, held on September 5, 2026, brought together students, technology enthusiasts, innovation communities and representatives of collaborating organisations for conversations, learning, networking and practical exploration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
Organised by Data Science Nigeria (DSN) Ado Ekiti, with DSN FUOYE and DSN EKSU among the collaborating communities, the programme provided participants with an opportunity to examine how AI could be applied to areas including education, productivity, creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurship.
Rather than focusing solely on the technical aspects of AI, the programme encouraged participants to consider problems within their communities and develop technology-enabled ideas capable of addressing those challenges.
One of the major highlights was the Ideathon, where participants worked in teams to develop, present and defend ideas before a panel of judges. FUOYE students recorded a strong showing, with teams involving students of the university securing both second and third positions.
The second-place team was led by Victor Adebiyi, a 300-level Computer Engineering student at FUOYE, alongside Afolabi Oluwatoba Samson, a 500-level Civil Engineering student, and Ogunremi Oluwabukunmi, a Computer Science graduate.
The team presented Empowering Educational Journey (EMP), an EdTech concept focused on improving the educational journey of secondary school students. The proposed solution is designed to support young learners in making more informed decisions concerning their education, career paths and future opportunities.
The presentation provided an example of how students from different academic backgrounds can combine their knowledge to develop technology-oriented solutions to educational challenges.
FUOYE was also represented among the third-place winners by Oluwadorotimi Caleb Fadaka and Oyeyinka Olawale Peter, further placing students of the university among the leading teams at the Ideathon.
Beyond the final positions recorded by the FUOYE teams, the competition provided participants with practical experience in identifying problems, developing solutions, working collaboratively and communicating their ideas before a judging panel.
FUOYE’s participation at the programme also extended to the university’s institutional representation. Mr Owasanoye Adebowale, Deputy Director of the university’s Directorate of Educational Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (DETIE), served as a member of the Ideathon judging panel.
His participation connected FUOYE’s student innovators with the university’s broader institutional interest in educational technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, while also providing an opportunity for the students to interact with a university representative within a wider technology ecosystem.
The programme brought together several organisations and communities, including DSN Ado Ekiti, DSN FUOYE, DSN EKSU, EcoScriber, Young Professionals Forum (Ekiti State Chapter), Learnetric, Sustainability and Innovation Hub (Sci-Hub), and Hallelujah Plastic Recycling Industry.
The collaboration created an environment where students could interact with participants from outside their immediate institutions, exchange ideas and build connections within the technology and innovation community.
For DSN FUOYE, participation in initiatives such as GROW with AI forms part of efforts to expose students to practical opportunities in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence while connecting them with wider technology communities.
The performance of the FUOYE teams also highlights the potential for university students to move beyond theoretical classroom learning into practical experimentation, solution development and entrepreneurial thinking when appropriate platforms are provided.
The GROW with AI 2026 experience therefore offered participating students more than a competitive platform. It provided an avenue to test ideas, receive exposure to innovation communities and demonstrate how emerging technologies can be connected to challenges in education and other areas of society.
For FUOYE, the involvement of its students and a DETIE representative in the programme further reflects the university’s participation in emerging conversations around educational technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence and practical student development.
