The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, has recorded a major breakthrough on the West African innovation landscape, as its technology team, Edu Sign AI, emerged among the top five finalists at a highly competitive regional technology challenge organised by the African Engineering and Technology for Development Centre (AFRETEC), in collaboration with the University of Lagos.
The feat came after Edu Sign AI outperformed 94 teams drawn from across West Africa, securing a place among the 15 finalist teams that advanced to the grand finale in Lagos.
At the grand finale, the UNIMED team, comprising Oluwatayo Ayodele Michael of the Department of Physiotherapy and Agunbiade Demilade of the Department of Computer Science, once again distinguished itself, finishing among the top five teams in West Africa, in what was described as an intense and intellectually demanding competition.
The journey to the final was preceded by a rigorous bootcamp that brought together some of the region’s most promising innovators, providing participants with intensive exposure to technology, innovation, problem-solving and entrepreneurial development.
The UNIMED Team’s innovation aptly code-named “Edu Sign AI” is an innovative artificial intelligence-powered solution developed to make digital video content more accessible to deaf learners through Nigerian Sign Language.
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The innovation addresses a critical gap in inclusive education by harnessing artificial intelligence to facilitate access to educational content for deaf learners, potentially opening up new opportunities for more equitable participation in the digital learning environment.
Edu Sign AI’s emergence among the five best teams from an initial field of 94 is a significant recognition of the innovative capacity within UNIMED and the University’s growing culture of developing technology-driven solutions to real-world challenges.
Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, vice chancellor of UNIMED, while reacting to the achievement, described the feat as a source of immense pride for the University and commended the team for its ingenuity, determination and commitment to using technology for social goods.
“I warmly congratulate the Edu Sign AI team on this outstanding achievement. To emerge among the top five teams from an initial field of 94 teams across West Africa is a remarkable accomplishment and a reflection of the creativity, resilience and innovative spirit that we continue to nurture at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
“Beyond the competition itself, I am particularly proud that our team developed a solution with the potential to make education more inclusive and accessible to deaf learners. This is exactly the kind of innovation that demonstrates the power of technology to transform lives and address real societal challenges.”
Adejuyigbe also commended AFRETEC and the University of Lagos for providing a platform through which young innovators could test their ideas, acquire new skills and compete at the highest regional level.
She noted that the achievement reinforces UNIMED’s commitment to innovation, excellence, inclusivity and the development of solutions with tangible societal impact.
The University’s showing at the competition is also a testament to the potential of its students and innovators to compete favourably beyond the national stage, while positioning UNIMED as an emerging hub for technology-enabled solutions to challenges in healthcare, education and human development.
BusinessDay reports that Edu Sign AI, the journey from 94 teams to the West African top 15, and ultimately the top five, represents more than a competition victory. It is a compelling demonstration of how innovation rooted in inclusion can earn recognition on a regional stage, and another proud milestone for the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
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