By Prince Osuagwu

Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing a new generation of innovators capable to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development through science, technology, and innovation, STI, is beginning to yield great results as 10 student-led innovator teams have emerged from the Coderina University Challenge, COUCH.

COUCH, an initiative of Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, is designed to inspire innovation, creativity, and problem-solving among students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The 2025 edition has drawn  participation from universities nationwide, with students developing solutions that address real-world challenges through technology, research, and entrepreneurship.

Although the 10 teams will still have to compete further to determine the best in order of importance, they are already considered champions considering the impact of their solutions to some of the problems bedeviling the Nigerian society.

stage is set for the grand finale of the Coderina University Challenge (COUCH), as the Top 10 student-led innovation teams converge at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Secretariat, Abuja, on 20th November 2025.

Coderina Founder, Olajide Ademola Ajayi said the competition which will mark the grand finale of this year’s challenge, holds special significance as it coincides with the Global Entrepreneurship Week, GEW.

GEW is a worldwide celebration of innovators and job creators under the theme “Together We Build.”

He said that stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and the private sector are expected to attend the COUCH grand finale to witness the ingenuity of Nigeria’s young innovators and explore pathways for collaboration, mentorship, and investment.

He also claimed that COUCH has become a national platform for showcasing how Nigerian youths  are using creativity and technology to reimagine the future, underscoring the importance of fostering innovation-led education and bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry needs.