The maiden edition of the Professor Jeremiah Ojediran Pitchathon has spotlighted a new wave of entrepreneurial talent at Bells University of Technology. The competition, a collaboration between The BOT Company and the NACOS Bells Chapter, saw 72 student-led teams compete for funding and mentorship to scale their innovative business ideas.
The Winners: Science Meets Skincare Taking home the top prize of ₦1 million was Confidence Amamba, a 300-level Industrial Chemistry student and founder of Rooted by Confia. Her brand addresses the haircare gap by utilizing 100% plant-based solutions to treat conditions like early-stage alopecia. Amamba plans to use the grant to expand her product line—which currently includes hair oils and butters—and secure shelf space in major retail malls across Nigeria.
AI for National Security Among the standout innovations was “Wahala AI,” developed by Computer Science student Ayoade Abdulfattah. Designed to combat the rise in kidnapping and insecurity, the technology allows victims to trigger emergency distress alerts using only voice commands. Unlike traditional apps that require manual input, “Wahala AI” recognizes distressed shouts and automatically notifies family members and nearby responders. Abdulfattah’s team is also prototyping surveillance drones built from recycled materials to provide rapid medical support during accidents.
The Path to Scalability Thomas, the lead sponsor from The BOT Company, expressed astonishment at the students’ self-organization and the technical depth of their projects. He hinted at increasing the support pool to ₦5 million or ₦10 million in future editions, emphasizing that in the digital age, “showing up” online is essential for global investment.
Judging the event, Balogun Khalil, CEO of Advanced Technological Incubation and Research Centre, noted that the evaluation went beyond just “good ideas.” Judges focused on:
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Market Validation: Whether the solution addresses a real-world problem people are willing to pay for.
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Capital Impact: Selecting winners where the ₦1 million prize would provide the most immediate and transformative boost to operations.
Call for Policy Support As the university celebrates these local breakthroughs, Dr. Michael Adenibuyan, Acting Director of Bells ODL, urged the Nigerian government to match this academic energy with favorable policies. He advocated for tax incentives and better support for startups that convert Nigeria’s raw materials and recyclable waste into economic value and job opportunities.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeremiah Ojediran concluded the event by challenging the students to mirror the innovative cultures of India and China, domesticating global knowledge to drive Nigeria’s industrial future.
