UNILAG-AFRETEC, Theseabilities Foundation reward assistive tech innovators

Winners have emerged from the University of Lagos Research-Based Assistive Technologies Challenge, a conference that showcased practical, research-driven solutions to improve accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities.

The challenge was organised through a strategic partnership between the Theseabilities Foundation and the Afretec UNILAG Inclusion Technical Working Group.

The initiative was launched on December 10, 2025, while applications closed on January 31, 2026.

The PUNCH learnt that Theseabilities Foundation played a central role in sponsoring, funding, and shaping the pathway from innovation to real-world impact.

At the event on Wednesday, held at the Design Studio of UNILAG’s Faculty of Social Sciences, Team Audio Reality clinched first place with a N2m prize.

Team S.I.G.I.L. placed second, receiving N1.5m, while Team Amebo secured third place with a N1m award.

The teams emerged from a competitive pool of nine finalists, selected through a rigorous process supported by the Foundation.

Chairman of the Theseabilities Foundation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, said the initiative was built on collaboration with UNILAG’s AFRETEC network.

“It wasn’t originally our idea. It was by the University of Lagos AFRETEC Network. They have a technology hub where they want to ensure that people can create innovative ideas that will help people with disabilities.

“We decided to collaborate with them by offering the sponsorship and funding that a lot of these inventors would need to develop their innovations further and, when ready, help them take them to market,” he said.

He noted that the foundation’s role goes beyond funding to advancing inclusion and improving outcomes for persons with disabilities.

“We are a disability foundation set up to ensure that there is ability in disability. We advocate inclusion, support employment, provide assistive tools like wheelchairs, and help create disability-friendly environments.

“We support as often as we can, depending on available resources, and we partner widely to meet these needs,” he added.

Speaking on the collaboration, the lead of the AFRETEC UNILAG Inclusion Technical Working Group, Prof Adekemi Sekoni, explained that inclusion is embedded across all its programmes.

“We work with the broader AFRETEC inclusion team to ensure that all programmes have elements of inclusion embedded in them,” she said, noting that the focus spans gender inclusion, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons and refugees.

She added that the partnership with Theseabilities Foundation was designed to accelerate the development of assistive technologies while strengthening collaboration between researchers and end users.

On the selection process, Sekoni said applications were received from both students and faculty within and outside UNILAG.

“We had a wide range of participants, and from these applications, we carefully selected those who would take part in the programme, based on their proposed areas of work,” she explained.

Also speaking, Acting Director of the Innovation and Technology Management Office, Dr Olayinka Adewunmi, described the conference as a platform for visibility, commercialisation, and cross-sector collaboration.

“This conference brings together partners from across the African Engineering and Technology Network to spotlight the uniqueness of persons living with disabilities.

“It shows they are not just people who need help—they have the talent and capacity to develop innovative solutions,” she said.

Adewunmi noted that the initiative also connected researchers with investors and development partners, a key step toward scaling innovation.

She explained that 19 submissions were initially received. The Theseabilities Foundation supported the selection of the top 10 teams, with nine advancing to the final stage after completing innovation training and beginning intellectual property processes.

“We want to get them ready for the market because research must move beyond the lab to create real impact,” she said.

She emphasised the role of partnerships in scaling innovation.

“You cannot develop solutions for communities in isolation. Partnerships are critical to scaling research and ensuring it makes a meaningful impact,” she added.