President Onwualu Urges Students to Embrace Innovation as FCT Holds Young Queens Entrepreneurship Challenge

The President, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, has called on students in Nigeria in particular and Africa at large to embrace innovation.

Prof. Onwualu made this call at the 2026 Federal Capital Territory, Abuja 's Young Queens Entrepreneurship Challenge held recently at the Government Science School, Maitama, Abuja.

The AUST President who was represented at the event by Ms. Lizzy Ulunma Asomugha, acting Head of Department , General Studies, AUST reaffirmed the university's commitment to national development and youth empowerment through innovation and science education.

He urged young students to embrace creativity and problem-solving as tools for societal transformation.

The event, which has as theme " Skills for Life” attracted key stakeholders from the education sector, including representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, the FCT Education Secretariat, and CEBAR Consulting Training Ltd.

Prof. Onwualu commended the participating schools for developing innovative solutions to pressing societal challenges. She noted that the future belongs to young people who are willing to think creatively and take bold steps towards innovation.

Among the notable projects showcased at the competition was a reusable sanitary pad developed from plantain leaf fibre by students of Government Technical Science School, Garki. Students of Government Science School, Maitama, presented K-Bloom Fertiliser, an innovative solution aimed at supporting farmers, while St. Aloysious Science Secondary School unveiled “A Cleaner Tomorrow”, a smart waste bin designed for reusable containers.

In her goodwill message, Ms Lizzy Asomugha urged the students not to wait until adulthood before making meaningful contributions to society.

She cited the example of Kelvin Doe, the Sierra Leonean innovator who built batteries and generators from scrap materials as a teenager and was later invited to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a visiting practitioner at the age of 16.

She also referenced Eesha Khare, who invented a supercapacitor capable of charging a mobile phone in 30 seconds while still in secondary school.

According to her, young people must learn to identify challenges within their environment and develop practical solutions through science, technology and innovation.

“The world is not waiting for young people to finish school before they matter,” she stated, while challenging the students to become solution providers rather than mere observers of societal problems.

The event further highlighted the growing importance of promoting girls’ participation in STEM education and entrepreneurship as part of efforts to build a more innovative and sustainable future for Nigeria.