By Prosper Mene
When Nigeria’s tech story is told, the focus is often on scale, startups and growth. But there is another story unfolding: the women building solutions to real problems across the country.
That story took center stage at the InnovateNaija Challenge, a national technology and innovation competition led by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in partnership with AfriLabs and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
Seven women made it to the final 15, and one of them took home the ultimate prize. Their innovations cut across healthcare, agriculture, energy, environmental sustainability and everyday life.
At the national pitch event held on October 6, 2026, all 15 finalists presented physical prototypes before industry experts, investors and policymakers.
Emerging as the overall grand prize winner of N100 million was Abia State innovator Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula, co-founder of Farm Speak, for her PenKeep Smart Poultry Climate Control System.
PenKeep is designed to help farmers manage climate-related challenges across poultry, aquaculture, greenhouse and smart irrigation systems. It shows how deep tech can solve fundamental agricultural problems.
For Akpagbula, who has spoken about funding, infrastructure and electricity as major hurdles for hardware innovators in Nigeria, the prize will help expand production capacity and reach more farmers.
Innovating Across Every Sector
Akpagbula’s win was part of a strong showing by female innovators in the competition.
The seven female finalists were:
Kemisola Bolarinwa, Ekiti State: Smart Bra Cup Diagnostic Device, a tech solution exploring early detection for breast health.
Elizabeth Chioma Chiketarauba, Imo State: Torquenova, an electric vehicle and main power generator that can be recharged through an in-built solar system or mains supply.
Rita Idehai, Edo State: Automated Reverse Vending Machine, applying technology to waste management and environmental sustainability.
Chinyere Esther Onwumelu, Nasarawa State: Gas-Level Monitoring and Community Gas Metering System, tackling energy access and accountability.
Khadija Adamu Dandada, Kano State: Shepall App, a digital solution addressing practical everyday needs.
Miriam Ashiemar Agbo, Benue State: Anatsor Integrated Poultry Management System, focused on agricultural productivity and livestock management.
Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula, Abia State: PenKeep Smart Poultry Climate Control System, the overall winner.
Their stories matter beyond the competition. Nigeria’s tech sector needs people who can identify problems, build solutions and take an idea to a tangible product. The presence and victory of female innovators at InnovateNaija is a clear reminder that Nigerian women are already doing that work as engineers, inventors, developers and problem solvers.
Platforms like InnovateNaija create room for that innovation to grow. Beyond the cash prizes, which included N100 million for the grand winner and N30 million and N20 million for runners-up, all 15 finalists gained long-term access to advanced manufacturing tools and infrastructure across NASENI’s nationwide technology institutes.
Most importantly, Akpagbula’s victory and the work of her fellow finalists give young Nigerian girls something tangible to see: they do not have to wait for someone else to build the future. They can build it themselves, and they can win.
