By Esther Onyegbula

The Chief Executive Officer of The BOT Company, Dr. Bayode Oke Thomas, has expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying the creativity, innovation and leadership capacity displayed by students of Bells University of Technology during the Professor Jeremiah Ojediran Pitchathon showed that the country still has hope in its young people.

Thomas, whose organisation sponsored the Pitchathon competition, said he and his team were amazed by the level of talent, organisation and innovation demonstrated by the students.

“We are more than excited to see that Nigeria has hope because of the young people that exist today. BELLS is at the centre of that hope,” he said.

Speaking at the event, he noted that the students independently handled most aspects of the programme, a development he described as evidence of their preparedness for leadership and nation-building.

The Pitchathon was organised by The BOT Company in partnership with the NACOS Bells Chapter as part of efforts to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and problem-solving among students.

“The students of Bells are phenomenal. We had little involvement in organising the programme. All we did was come in and tell them what we wanted to achieve. The next thing we saw was the outcome, and honestly, we were shocked by what they delivered,” he stated.

Thomas said the initiative was conceived to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and problem-solving among young Nigerians, adding that the organisation would continue investing in programmes capable of nurturing future leaders and innovators.

“We contributed funds for the Pitchathon with the hope of starting something meaningful. But now, it is obvious that this can grow bigger. Hopefully next year, we will be talking about N5 million or even N10 million support,” he said.

He urged students to maximise opportunities available in the digital age, stressing that global visibility and success now depend largely on consistency and self-promotion.
“We are now in a world where somebody from anywhere in the world can discover you online. Someone can watch you for two minutes on Instagram and decide to invest in you. But if you do not show up, nobody will know what you can do,” he added.

Thomas also encouraged youths to embrace volunteering and mentorship opportunities, describing them as essential steps toward personal growth and leadership.
“You are only used because you are useful. If nobody sees value in you, nobody will use you. Volunteer wisely and keep building yourself because tomorrow you will also sit at the decision-making table,” he advised.

He further commended the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Jeremiah Ojediran, for sustaining a culture of excellence and innovation within the institution.
“I must celebrate the Vice-Chancellor because of the calibre of people that have passed through this school. The students were already refined before we met them. That tells you there is a strong foundation here,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Professor Jeremiah Ojediran, praised the students for their creativity and participation in the Pitchathon, which attracted 72 teams.

According to him, the programme reflected the growing innovative capacity of Nigerian youths and the need for the country to begin taking pride in locally developed ideas and technologies.
“I was initially worried that only a few students would participate, but when I saw 72 teams, it gladdened my heart. This should not be the last edition but the beginning of something bigger,” he said.

Ojediran also challenged Nigerian youths to emulate countries such as China and India by acquiring global knowledge and bringing it back home for national development.
“If you go to laboratories around the world, you will find Nigerians making waves. We must also build that same culture of innovation here at home,” he added.

Also speaking, the winner of the maiden edition of Professor Jeremiah Ojediran Pitchathon and founder of Rooted by Confia, Confidence Amamba, a 300-level Industrial Chemistry student, said her haircare brand was created to address challenges in the haircare industry using plant-based solutions.

“I saw a gap in the haircare space and realised science could solve the problem. We use 100 per cent plant-based raw materials to formulate our products,” she said.
Amamba explained that the brand currently has two products in the market, including a hair oil for early-stage traction alopecia and a hair butter, while additional products are being developed.

“I joined the competition to have fun and now I’m leaving with one million naira. This support will help us scale the business further,” she said.
She added that her long-term goal was to make Rooted by Confia one of Nigeria’s leading haircare brands.
“With this support, we are going to create more materials, develop new products and ensure that Rooted by Confia gets on shelves in malls across the country,” she stated.

According to one of the judges, Balogun Khalil, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Technological Incubation and Research Centre, the Pitchathon provided an important platform for evaluating ideas with real market potential.

“The first thing we look at is whether the problem actually exists. Then we examine if the solution matches the problem and whether the idea fits into the market,” he explained.
Khalil noted that some ideas failed because potential users showed little interest in them, stressing that market acceptance remained critical to startup success.
“Some problems can exist in our heads, but the key question is whether people are willing to buy into the solution,” he said.

He added that the judges also considered whether the N1 million prize could make immediate impact on the winning business.
“Some ideas were excellent, but the amount may not solve their challenges immediately. So we selected a winner who could effectively use the money to scale the business right away,” he added.
Also speaking, Acting Director of Bells ODL, Dr. Michael Adenibuyan, called on government to support startups and local manufacturing through favourable policies and tax incentives.

He said many recyclable materials and raw resources available in Nigeria could be converted into economic opportunities if properly harnessed.
“We have most of these raw materials wasting away in Nigeria. The government needs to support startups that can turn these resources into value and jobs,” he stated.

One of the participants, Ayoade Abdulfattah, a 300-level Computer Science student and founder of Koruna, showcased “Wahala AI,” an emergency and security technology designed to help victims trigger distress alerts through voice commands during dangerous situations.

According to him, the innovation was inspired by the increasing rate of insecurity and kidnapping in Nigeria.
“We noticed that many security apps require users to take out their phones and press buttons during emergencies, which is not always possible. With Wahala AI, you can simply shout for help and the AI recognises the distressed voice and triggers alerts,” he explained.
Abdulfattah said the application could notify family members, nearby paramilitary and paramedical responders whenever a user reports being kidnapped, robbed or in danger.
“If someone is being kidnapped, the person just needs to shout ‘help me’ and tell the AI what is happening. The system then sends distress messages to people around and emergency responders that can come to the person’s aid,” he said.
He disclosed that his team was also developing a surveillance drone capable of providing emergency medical support in accident situations.

“The drone can carry small packs of medical supplies for paramedical personnel before the Nigerian emergency system arrives. We built it from scraps, but we still need funding because the project is expensive,” he added.

Although his team did not make the final 25, Abdulfattah described the experience as motivating.
“It encouraged me to work more on our pitching skills because we believe we have a solid innovation,” he said, while commending the organisers for creating a platform for students to showcase their ideas.

Chairperson of the Bells University Parents Forum, Barrister Adefowoke Ayo-Ponle, also applauded the students and pledged continued support from parents for innovation-driven initiatives within the university.