Eleven teams! Thirty-five brilliant minds! One goal! Limitless Innovations!
An event such as the just-concluded “Waste Management and Energy Conservation” Design Competition held at the UNILAG Design Studio signifies the innovative spirit prevailing among young minds in Nigeria. The UI-UNILAG Design Competition 2023 provided a platform for eleven teams, comprising thirty-five enthusiastic individuals, to converge and address the critical issues of waste management and energy conservation, crucial elements in Nigeria's sustainable development.
Focused on the theme, teams analyzed diverse design factors encompassing cost-efficiency, energy conservation, waste recycling, cultural integration, safety protocols, and ease of implementation. Each team presented innovative solutions tailored to the theme, and the grand prize-winning team engineered an inventive solution named Triple Usage Incinerator (TUI). TUI incinerates plastic waste through an anaerobic combustion process and simultaneously produces fuel (diesel) and combustible gases (LPG) which can be used to generate electricity. One System, Three Uses. This groundbreaking solution promises substantial strides in waste reduction and energy conservation across diverse settings, aligning with the theme's core objectives.
The impact of this design competition extends far beyond the competition itself. Participants and organizers alike have acquired invaluable insights, fostering an environment ripe for continuous innovation. The ripple effects of this event are bound to reverberate in both personal and professional realms, nurturing a culture of sustainable problem-solving. Heartiest congratulations to all participants, who undoubtedly left this event enriched with new perspectives and heightened capabilities.
Acknowledgment is due to the facilitators whose guidance was instrumental in shaping this event. The visionary leadership of the University of Ibadan Design Studio & Innovation Hub and UNILAG Design Studio teams was pivotal in achieving this success. Additionally, the invaluable and objective evaluation of the wonderful judges cannot be overemphasised.
Profound gratitude goes to the sponsors: Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies and Edamol Glassworld.
This is another milestone on the path of sustainable generation of solutions to challenges in Africa and the future looks bright!