Meet 12yr old Nigerian Innovator who won trip to Austria in MED-EL’s Global IDEASforEARS contest

Joshua Obadin, a brilliant young 12-year-old innovator from Lagos, Nigeria has achieved an extraordinary feat as one of only ten children worldwide to win the prestigious IDEASforEARS Children’s Invention Contest.

Obadin impressed the judges with his invention of a sleep wear cover for his friend Mikel who uses a cochlear Implant.

This solution stood out for its innovation, practical impact, and potential to make a meaningful difference for those living with hearing challenges.

“Mikel can’t hear without his device, and when he removes the device when going to bed, everything goes silent—even if there’s danger. He can’t even hear crickets chirping, which makes me worried. I wanted to create something to help keep him safe. Knowing my idea could help others too makes me happy,” he said.

The Competition, organized by MED-EL, a global leader in hearing implant solutions, encourages creativity and innovation, challenging children aged 6 to 12 to develop ideas that can improve the lives of people with hearing loss.

Read also: Meet Motajo, ABUAD’s overall best-graduating medical student
This contest is more than just about ideas—it has grown into a movement of creativity, compassion, and problem-solving.

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The 2025 edition drew 355 participants from 24 countries, including bright young minds from Nigeria, all showcasing innovations in hearing technology. From wearable devices and apps to solar- and kinetic-powered solutions, these ideas reflect a generation eager to use technology to transform lives.

Geoffrey Ball, inventor of the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE and Head Judge of IDEASforEARS, expressed his admiration for this year’s participants: “These kids do not just see limits – they see possibilities. Their curiosity, compassion, and fresh perspectives remind us that innovation begins with imagination and the courage to turn challenges into solutions. Every submission tells a story of a child who saw a problem and dared to find a solution. IDEASforEARS shows us that innovation starts young, driven by the boundless energy of young minds and the desire to make a real impact on the world.”

The excitement does not stop with the contest results! As a winner, Joshua Obadin will travel to Innsbruck, Austria, MED-EL’s global headquarters, this June with one Parent. There, he will meet the other young creators from around the world, connect with professionals in hearing technology, and experience hands-on learning through workshops and innovation tours.

The spotlight shines on ten exceptional young minds, whose ideas stood out for their creativity, practicality, and heart. Here is the lineup of winners whose inventive designs captured global attention: Allen Fan Yintao, 12 years old, from China; Amanda Cunha de Mello, 10 years old, from Brazil; Arabella Lillian Romsa, 12 years old, from the United States; Camila Marelli, 9 years old, from Argentina; Ian Froilan Alarcón Suárez, 11 years old, from Colombia; Joshua Obadin, 12 years old, from Nigeria; Aurora Schiazza, 9 years old, from Italy;
María Mattos Santisteban, seven years old, from Spain; Mathilde Santuber Sinnig, eight years old, from Germany, Pola Binienda, and eight years old, from Poland.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.