Nigeria continued to burnish its international reputation this week through achievements in innovation, philanthropy and sport. At the GITEX Nigeria 2025 in Lagos, start‑up Curacel won the Supernova Challenge, taking the $10,000 first prize and planning to expand its AI‑driven health insurance platform across Europe and North America. In Europe, the Schneider Electric Foundation’s Battery Innovation Challenge honoured Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University’s Energiv project – converting plastic waste into carbon nanotubes for better lithium‑ion batteries – as part of a €18,000 prize pool for African teams.
The European Union also pledged €45 million to Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent programme to train citizens in areas like artificial intelligence and cyber‑security. Meanwhile, World Women Organisation presented its International Philanthropy Award to Olori Janet Afolabi for her innovative food‑distribution work in rural communities; the Maryland‑based body, active in 61 countries, praised her generosity and humanity. On the sporting front, Nigeria’s Chovken team qualified for the 2025 world championship in Baku after winning the African Championship in Abuja, earning the right to compete against European and Asian teams.
