FUTA dominates Inaugural Dangote Cement National undergraduate Industry-based Engineering Competition

The Federal University of Technology Akure FUTA has won the First and Third position at the Inaugural edition of the Dangote Cement sponsored National Undergraduate Industry-Based Engineering Research Competition. 

 At the grand finale organized by the University of Lagos Engineering Society Academic & Research Board under the aegis of Dangote Cement Plc at the University of Lagos on July 28,2026, Oluwaferanmi Oladepo (Information and Communication Engineering), Nunsi Shiaki (Computer Engineering), and Adejire Adegite (Electrical and Electronics Engineering), of Team Zenith won the First Position while Faith Alabetutu and Samuel Abayomi, both 400-level students of the Department of Computer Engineering, competing as Team Data Knights won the Third position. A team from the University of Lagos came second with teams from the University of Ibadan also participating in the grand finale. 

FUTA Team Zenith, represented by Oluwaferanmi Oladepo, impressed the judges who declared them the best overall with a research-backed early-warning system that listens to a machine's vibration and electrical signals together, catching equipment faults while they're still small, well before they turn into costly breakdowns.

Team Data Knights picked the Third position with a data-driven optimization model charting how Dangote's plants can source more of their energy from alternative fuel, backed by over 230 screened research sources and Dangote's own audited plant data.

The organizers received over 360 applications submitted nationwide at the initial stage , and only six teams earned a spot to pitch live before judges at the University of Lagos grand finale , with two of them who eventually won the First and Third position coming from FUTA.

An elated Vice Chancellor Professor Adenike Oladiji described the feat as heartwarming and another exemplification of the excellence of products of FUTA. “ Once gain our students have demonstrated that we are one of the best universities of technology and we can hold our own anywhere nationally or globally. I salute the excellence of Oluwaferanmi Oladepo, Nunsi Shiaki and Adejire Adegite of Team Zenith who won the First Position and Faith Alabetutu and Samuel Abayomi, of Team Data Knights who won the Third position. Winning two major positions in a national competition is a major achievement.” The Vice Chancellor stated.