‎OAU secures first place in 2026 university duel competition

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has secured first place in the 2026 grand finale of University Duel Competition after an intense 11-week tournament involving 62 universities across the country.
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‎The University Duel, now in its second edition, is a competition designed to showcase talent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
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‎The competition engaged 62 universities and 186 students, testing their knowledge and skills in Applied Mathematics, Data Analysis, General Knowledge, and Verbal Reasoning, bridging theoretical excellence with the digital skills needed for national development.
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‎Speaking during the prize presentation, Prof. John Odedire, the Dean of Student Affairs of OAU,  described the occasion as a historic achievement for the university, commending MTN Nigeria for sponsoring.
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‎Odedire said that “what we are celebrating today is a double win, this is the first time that an institution has won both the University Duel and the Smart Challenge competitions in a sweep.”
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‎According to him, the university placed third in the inaugural edition of the University Duel in 2025 before returning to claim first position in both competitions in 2026.
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‎Also speaking, Oladapo Ojo, founder of the STEM Africa Initiative, argued that true progress requires the nation to become a creator, not just a consumer, of technology.
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‎”If Africa and Nigeria are to move forward, we must move beyond merely consuming technology to developing our own,” he stated.
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‎He explained that the competition serves as a catalyst for this shift, helping students see the direct benefit of STEM education.
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‎”MTN Nigeria see this initiative and put their support as a proud sponsor to the STEM itself. The motivation is about bringing change to Africa, Nigeria, making our young people see the benefits of STEM in their lives, emphasizing the transformative power of these disciplines,” Oladapo stated.
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‎Quayum Alli, one of the award recipients,  who participated alongside Adesina Lekan and Ogungbayi Imran, expressed appreciation to MTN Nigeria for sponsoring the competition and the STEM Africa Initiative for creating a platform that recognises academic excellence and nurtures Nigeria’s future innovators.
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‎Quayum said wider publicity would attract greater participation in future editions of the competition, adding that MTN’s investment in students through STEM education provides both digital skills and encouragement for young people to translate classroom theory into real-world solutions.
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‎Through this sponsorship, MTN Nigeria awarded N3 million to the winners of the University Duel and N1 million to the Smart Challenge champions, in addition to scholarships. The sponsorship, according to organiser, is aimed at supporting the development of talents needed for Nigeria’s digital economy.