*TheSTEMafrica Initiative, organisers of the UniversityDUEL, in Nigeria, announces an extension of registration deadline for the UniversityDUEL 2027 to Friday, July 17, 2026, stating the annual event is designed to get students to ‘think out-of-the-box in creating solutions to complex business and societal problems’, using technology that will impact lives and change the community
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
TheSTEMafrica Initiative, organisers of the UniversityDUEL, in Nigeria, has announced an extension of registration deadline for the UniversityDUEL 2027 till Friday, July 17, 2026.
ConsumerConnect reports the UniversityDUEL is an annual contest among top higher institutions of learning in the country, where “outstanding undergraduates collaborate and compete in critical thinking, problem solving, analytics, sustainable environment, general knowledge and innovations.”
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Describing the mode of getting the best of brains among student contestants, TheSTEMafrica explained the aim of the initiative is “to get students to think out-of-the-box in creating solutions to complex business and societal problems, using technology that will impact lives and change the community.”
Key objectives of UniversityDUEL
As regards the core objectives of the intellectual combat among top Nigerian students, the organisers stated the UniversityDUEL was established to “create a platform where Innovators, Inventors, Scientists are discovered, nurtured and celebrated; to promote teamwork, mentorship and entrepreneurship that will galvanise growth and development.”
The organisation also noted the contest is meant to “create a healthy cross fertilisation of ideas thereby promoting STEM knowledge and application.”
Prizes
- 1st Prize
N1,000,000 for each undergraduate + Gold trophy for the school
- 2nd Prize
N500,000 for each undergraduate + a Silver trophy for the school.
- 3rd Prize
N250,000 for each undergraduate + a Bronze trophy for the school.
For the Innovation Duel, TheSTEMafrica disclosed the two million Naira (N2,000,000) grant is to further empower the winners of the competition to “develop their solution (from ideation to ready-for-market).”
Prospective top higher institutions of learning are, therefore, directed to register at: https://lnkd.in/dmQ53ePP.
“Certificate of Excellence for all the participants,” TheSTEMafrica stated in the announcement via its verified social media account.
OAU won N4m, scholarships from 2026 UniversityDUEL and SMART Challenge
It is recalled that Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, recently won total N4 million and scholarships from UniversityDUEL and SMART Challenge in the same season 2026, as TheSTEMAfrica Initiative officially, presented the University with trophies and prizes for emerging champions of the two initiatives on the University campus.
OAU, a citadel of academic excellence, had emerged the winner of the second edition of the UniversityDUEL Competition, which streamed live on TikTok, was celebrated June 12 this year, in the Oduduwa Hall of the prestigious University, fondly called “Great Ife”.
The UniversityDUEL Competition is a premier contest designed to showcase Nigeria’s emerging talents in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
In this year’s event, which latest 11 weeks, the competition featured total 62 Universities and 186 students across Nigeria, who were tested in Applied Mathematics, Data Analysis, General Knowledge, and Verbal Reasoning—highlighting the technical capabilities shaping the West African country’s digital future.
Three outstanding OAU students – Abdul Quayum Alli, Lekan Adesina, and Ogungbayi Imran – who headlined the honour, represented University throughout the competitions.
The authorities of the University, in a statement, affirmed that the students’ sterling performance across both UniversityDUEL and the SMART Challenge secured the historic “double victory” for the University.