By Our Reporter
Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, has strengthened its reputation as a centre for innovation and technological advancement after emerging as the second-best institution in the highly competitive 2026 South-West Committee of Deans of Engineering and Technology (CODET) Competition, Zone 1.
The university earned the recognition through an innovative research project developed by one of its graduates, Mr. Nwaeze Newman Odogwu, who designed a smart payment system for water distribution in cluster farming communities.
The competition, hosted at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), brought together engineering faculties from 13 universities across Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states.
It served as a platform for researchers and students to showcase technological solutions aimed at addressing critical societal challenges.
At the end of the competition, only four universities qualified in the highly coveted single-presenter category, highlighting the quality and intensity of the contest.
FUTA emerged overall winner, while Elizade University secured second position ahead of several established institutions.
Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) finished third.
The award-winning project, titled “Development of a Payment System for Water Distribution in Cluster Farming,” was developed under the supervision of Dr. Olugbenga Ogidan of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
The innovation addresses one of Africa’s most persistent agricultural challenges—the equitable allocation and management of water resources among farmers operating within shared irrigation systems.
Designed specifically for low-resource farming communities, the technology enables farmers to pay only for the exact quantity of water used on their farms.
By integrating water-metering sensors with a web-based payment platform, the system ensures transparency, accountability and efficient resource management.
The innovation also records every transaction with corresponding dates and timestamps, creating a reliable audit trail that minimizes disputes among farmers while promoting fairness and sustainability in water usage.
In addition, the system incorporates crop water requirement data and digital payment platforms to create an intelligent irrigation framework capable of optimizing water allocation and improving agricultural productivity.
Experts at the competition described the project as a practical and scalable solution with enormous potential for deployment across Africa, where water scarcity and inefficient irrigation practices continue to pose serious threats to food production and rural livelihoods.
The project has already been successfully piloted at Elizade University, demonstrating its operational viability and readiness for wider implementation.
Receiving the award-winning team, the Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Philip Oguntunde, commended the young innovator and his supervisor for developing a solution capable of transforming agricultural practices and improving livelihoods across the continent.
He urged the graduate to remain committed to innovation and excellence while praising the Faculty of Engineering and academic mentors whose guidance contributed to the success.
Professor Oguntunde said the achievement reflected the institution’s enduring commitment to its philosophy of “Going Higher” and its determination to produce graduates equipped with globally competitive skills.
“This accomplishment is a pointer to the quality of scholarship and innovation that Elizade University represents. We remain unwavering in our vision of building a world-class institution that produces graduates with global competitive advantage and the creative capacity to solve societal problems,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that academic excellence is not determined by age but by creativity, determination, focus and the courage to challenge conventional thinking.
According to him, young minds possess the energy and innovative ideas required to solve contemporary challenges and drive societal transformation.
He added that the university is deliberately investing in science, technology, engineering and innovation as critical drivers of national development and global competitiveness.
The Registrar of the institution, Mr. Omololu Adegbenro, described the university’s performance at the competition as further evidence of its rapid emergence as a leading centre for engineering research and innovation-driven education.
Similarly, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Adebunmi Okediji, said the recognition celebrated not only the ingenuity of a young researcher but also the university’s broader commitment to developing practical technologies capable of addressing pressing societal needs.
Project supervisor, Dr. Ogidan, described the award as a significant milestone in the university’s journey toward becoming a globally respected institution where ideas are transformed into impactful solutions.
According to him, the achievement demonstrates how research can be harnessed to solve real-world problems while empowering young innovators to shape the future.
Speaking on the project, Odogwu explained that the system was developed to address recurring challenges associated with water sharing and payment collection in cluster farming arrangements.
He noted that the technology could help reduce conflicts among farmers, improve agricultural productivity, strengthen rural economies and contribute significantly to food security across Africa.
As the institution continues to invest in research and innovation, observers believe Elizade University is increasingly demonstrating that its graduates are not merely acquiring academic qualifications but are being equipped to become innovators, entrepreneurs and solution providers capable of driving sustainable development across Africa.
