By Israel Jang

Students from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Jos have won a total of ₦70 million at the maiden Nigeria Engineering Olympiad after developing an artificial intelligence-powered farm robot designed to detect crop diseases. The innovation is expected to support early disease detection in crops and improve agricultural productivity.

A team of students from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Jos, known as Team Fortizo, has emerged as one of the biggest winners at the maiden Nigeria Engineering Olympiad after securing awards valued at ₦70 million.

The students developed a solar-powered robotic device equipped with artificial intelligence capable of detecting diseases affecting crops including potato, maize and ginger. The technology is designed to help farmers identify infections early, reducing crop losses and improving farm productivity.

For the innovation, the team received a ₦20 million startup grant to support further development of the project, alongside ₦50 million worth of laboratory equipment for the University's Faculty of Engineering.

The University of Jos has also announced plans to collaborate with Team Fortizo to commercialize the innovation, a move aimed at transforming the research into a practical solution for Nigeria's agricultural sector.

The achievement highlights the growing role of Nigerian universities in developing technology-driven solutions to challenges in agriculture and food security.

If successfully commercialized, the AI-powered robot could contribute to improved crop management, support farmers in making timely decisions, and strengthen efforts to increase agricultural productivity across the country.