A 19-year-old Nigerian, Ifeoluwa Afolayan, has emerged as one of the first prize winners at the 2025 WE Innovate Grand Final held in the United Kingdom.

According to a statement, Afolayan, a Master’s student in Design Engineering at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Arts, won the top prize with her agricultural solution, Aeropod (by Muju Earth), a climate-proof capsule designed to enrich and aerate soil during heavy rainfall.

The innovation won her team €15,000 (approximately N21.6m) at Imperial College London’s flagship pre-accelerator programme for women-led ventures.

The project, developed alongside team members Yuchen Cai, Alex Clark, and Ocean Hu, aims to tackle intensive farming and climate vulnerability by empowering farmers with sustainable soil regeneration tools.

Afolayan said, “I’m incredibly honoured to be part of WE Innovate and to win first prize. This initiative has the power to revolutionise agriculture in Nigeria, helping farmers adapt to climate change and ensuring food security for future generations.”

The startup’s solution drew wide acclaim for its potential to reduce environmental degradation while boosting food productivity, especially in regions like Nigeria where erratic weather threatens farming.

WE Innovate, an initiative of Imperial College London, equips female innovators with masterclasses, coaching, and business support to develop and scale their ventures.

Afolayan revealed that with the grant and continued mentorship, her team plans to partner with a Nigerian firm to introduce climate-resilient farming techniques and innovative crop management systems in the country.

She added, “This achievement is a testament to the power of innovation and resilience. Our project aims to transform agriculture in Nigeria, making it more sustainable and climate-proof.

“We believe that with the right support and partnerships, we can create lasting change that benefits farmers and helps safeguard our planet for future generations.”