The initiative represents one of the most significant private-sector investments in Nigerian higher education in recent memory.

The Moniepoint Innovations Hubs will be built at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).

The three institutions were strategically selected to scale the impact of the interventions across Nigeria’s geographic regions and to reflect a commitment to ensuring that opportunity is not concentrated in a single city or region but is proportionally distributed across the country, in line with Nigeria’s diversity and potential.

Each Moniepoint Innovation Hub will serve as a permanent centre for hands-on training in software engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence; design; robotics; product development; and entrepreneurship.

Open to students across all faculties, the programme will guide participants from curiosity to career readiness through structured, cohort-based learning, mentorship, and real-world project execution.

The initiative was formally announced today at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife in a ceremony attended by the Vice-Chancellors of all three universities, senior leaders from academia and industry, student representatives, alumni, and members of Nigeria’s broader innovation ecosystem.

Speaking on the initiative, Tosin Eniolorunda, co-founder and chief executive officer, Moniepoint Group,  said,

“When you look at the success of companies like Moniepoint, it’s easy to forget that it all started with the foundational training we received right here in Nigerian universities. This initiative is about paying that trust forward. Nigeria’s digital economy cannot run on potential alone; it requires immense, localized talent density. By launching these Innovation Hubs beginning with OAU, UNN, and ABU Zaria, we are intentionally anchoring world-class technical skills across the country.

And this is just the first step as we look across other tertiary institutions. Before we built anything, universities like UNILAG and OAU built people like Felix and I, giving us our first formal training in the disciplines that became our careers.”

Furthermore, Eniolorunda continued,

“Nigeria’s future will to a very large extent be built by Nigerians trained in Nigerian institutions. These three Hubs are my contribution to making that future credible by creating a solid pipeline for the emergence of great products and ideas. To truly scale our digital economy, we need high-density, industry-ready tech talent as a bulwark. We are investing these billions of Naira to ensure our tech ecosystem is powered by sustainable, homegrown excellence.”

Also speaking at the announcement ceremony, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, the vice chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University,  stated,

“Obafemi Awolowo University has always stood for excellence, and for the belief that knowledge must serve society. This partnership with Moniepoint Group is a powerful affirmation of that conviction. The Moniepoint Innovation Hub will not only expand what our students can learn but also transform what they believe is possible. We are grateful to Moniepoint for choosing to root this investment in our institutions, and we are committed to ensuring that every naira translates into opportunity for our students and for Nigeria.”

Beyond financial support, Moniepoint Inc will contribute deep industry expertise through curriculum development, mentorship, internship pathways, and expert-led learning experiences.

The company’s engineering, product, and business teams will collaborate directly with each hub to ensure that training is not only globally relevant but also firmly grounded in the realities and demands of the modern African technology ecosystem.

The hubs are designed to be living institutions, not lecture halls, but launchpads of Nigerian excellence. Students will complete structured cohort programmes, work on live projects, and benefit from direct connections to Moniepoint’s network of engineers, investors, and industry leaders.

The goal is not simply to teach skills, but to produce the builders and problem-solvers who will shape the next chapter of Africa’s digital economy.

The ceremony which attracted dignitaries from within and outside the University included Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor G.A Aderounmu, Dean, Faculty of Technology, OAU, Professor L. E. Umoru, Dean of the Faculty of Science, OAU, Professor O.A Adesina, DVC Academic of UNN, Professor Kamoru O Usman, DVC, Advancement, Research & Innovation”, ABU, Professor Aliyu Sanusi, Former Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Obayopo, VP, People Operations, Moniepoint, Chinaza Nduka-Dike, SVP, Enterprise Network Sales, Ifeanyi Duru amongst others.

It will be recalled that Moniepoint Innovation Hubs builds on earlier investments by the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation in building a CAD/CAM laboratory at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, OAU valued at over 100m naira and the HatchDev Program at the University of Lagos championed by Moniepoint’s co-founder & Chief Technology Officer, Felix Ike in partnership with NiITHub innovation centre where about 500 young developers are trained annually.

The initiative reinforces Moniepoint’s broader mission to create financial happiness for every African, everywhere, a mission that, the company believes, requires investing not only in financial infrastructure, but in the institutions and talent pipelines that will drive Africa’s future prosperity.

Forty-five (45) tertiary institutions were shortlisted for the competition, out of which four made it to the finals in Aba.

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA), Federal University Otuoke (FUOTUOKE) and University of Nigerian Nsukka (UNN) were the finalists and are ranked according to their performance (scores) in the competition:

1st University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)

2nd Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH)

3rd Federal University Otuoke (FUOTUOKE)

4th Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA)

The Nigerian Genius

The Nigerian Genius Engineering Competition (Campus Edition) brought together Nigeria’s brightest minds in tertiary institutions to solve Nigeria’s toughest engineering and manufacturing challenges.

Tochukwu Chukwueke, the Lead Coordinator of Nigerian Genius, spoke to TechEconomy.ng about the process of the event:

“They learnt Advanced Engineering Skills from industry experts and were given access to Precision Manufacturing Equipment at CLINTONEL Advanced Engineering Centre Aba to build engineering and manufacturing solutions for Nigeria.

“These young geniuses spent two weeks at the CLINTONEL Advanced Engineering Centre Aba undergoing intensive training on engineering and different manufacturing processes including: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Product Design and Development, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), 3D Printing, Laser Engraving, Laser Cutting, CNC lathe machining, CNC 4-axis Machining, Welding, Fabrication, Metal Casting, etc.

“A team of experts mentored and guided the students (contestants) for the 2-week period as they deploy the skills acquired to design and build different engineering products and solutions.

“To facilitate industry-academia collaborations, industry experts teamed up with engineering lecturers to mentor the students, including a professor of mechanical engineering”.

Continuing, Chukwueke, said the Nigerian Genius Engineering Competition was set up to draw national attention to engineering as a critical part of manufacturing and national development.

He said that this will further inspire tertiary institutions to improve their engineering education, paying more attention to industry relevant skills and Project Based Learning; equip engineering students with essential industry and manufacturing skills, and boost local manufacturing, resulting in employment generation and economic development.

“Through Project Based Learning approach the contestants were trained to acquire essential industry and manufacturing skills which they deployed to build products using different manufacturing processes”.

Image: Mobile Phone Charger

The students built the following products which Nigeria currently imports:

• Mobile Phone Chargers (produced through electronics design software, PCB CNC milling and 3D printing)
• Adjustable Tables (produced through metal fabrication)
• Engine Parts (crank shaft produced through metal casting and connecting rod produced through CNC machining)
• Plastic enclosures and engravings (produced through laser cutting and engraving)

“This builds capacity for local production of goods which will boost Nigeria’s economy and strengthen the Naira”, Chukwueke, explained.

The challenge: Solving Nigeria’s Power (Energy) Problem

Chukwueke who is also the founder of Clintonel Innovation Centre, said that the contestants were given a challenge to design and build solutions for Nigeria’s power (energy) problems using renewable energy sources.

Team UNN (Benstowe Destiny, Uzodinma Somto, David Okenwa) designed and built a Portable Water-Powered Electricity Generator that can be installed in every home with overhead water tank. It also includes an Energy Management System which monitors and displays power generation, consumption and reserve.

This innovative product will make free electricity available in virtually every home in Nigeria

Team LAUTECH (Oyewo Taoheed Oyetayo, Abisoye Akinloye Samson, Ayanwole Iyanuloluwa Moses) designed and built a Hybrid Solar and Wind Electricity Generation System which includes a tracking and positioning system for the solar panels.

Their system provides energy both in the day from sun and at night from wind.

Team FUOTUOKE (Udo Success Ifunanyachi, Nwaneri Ifeanyi Vincent, Sampson Hekagemkosiem Ojum) designed and built an Inverter and Automated Solar Tracking and Positioning System for solar panels.

This will significantly improve the power generated from solar panels.

Team FUTMINNA (Abdullahi Adeyemi Asimiyu, Reheemah Alayaki, Attahiru Jibril) designed and built a Hybrid Solar and Wind Electricity Generation System with a mobile phone tracking function.

This enables consumers to track their energy generation, sharing and consumption on the go wherever they might be.

Engineering for Industry (E4I)

“The Nigerian Genius is implemented under Engineering for Industry (E4I), a national program designed by Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC) Aba to bridge the engineering skills gap in Nigeria, facilitate industry-academia collaborations and drive industrialisation.

“Clintonel is partnering with tertiary institutions nationwide delivering industry-focused capacity building for engineering lecturers, students, and fresh graduates. Over 570 engineering lecturers and students from 4 tertiary institutions have been trained under E4I.

Similarly, three indigenous STEM kits have been designed and developed with which 881 secondary school teachers/students have been trained on STEM”, he said.

Introduction to Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC)

He further said that the Nigerian Genius was designed and implemented by Clintonel Innovation Centre (CIC) – a solar powered STEM Centre, Nigeria’s first Makerspace (Engineering Tech Hub) and Hardware Startup Incubator.

Interestingly, Clintonel provides training, mentoring and equipment for young people to create engineering innovations, build indigenous products and start up technology businesses.

With a vision to facilitate industrialisation in Nigeria, Clintonel has trained over 600 young persons in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Renewable (Solar) Energy and Entrepreneurship. Hardware Startups incubated by Clintonel are now producing different indigenous products, employing several young persons and helping to reduce poverty in Nigeria. Clintonel is also working towards building medical equipment in Nigeria, in partnership with University College London (UCL) and COVIDaction (UKaid).

“In an effort to build and support the Nigerian hardware ecosystem, Clintonel started Hardware Nigeria Community (HNC) – a national network of Nigerian inventors, engineers, makers, investors and hardware entrepreneurs working to build hardware products and businesses in Nigeria.

“To deliver on the mandate of building engineering capacity, generating employment and reducing poverty in Nigeria, Clintonel has worked with different partners including: PIND Foundation, ACT Foundation, Royal Academy of Engineering, Ford Foundation, Autodesk, ATOM, GEMINI, UKaid, UCL, etc”, Chukwueke explained.

Clintonel is a licensed Autodesk Learning Partner (ALP) and Authorised Testing Centre (ATC) for different International Certifications on Technical and Engineering Skills.

The Nigerian Genius is supported by ACT Foundation, Engineering X (Royal Academy of Engineering), CLINTONEL Advanced Engineering Centre and Autodesk.