Applications are now open for the Professor Ogundipe Innovative Challenge (POIC) 4.0, an initiative driven by the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Lagos, in partnership with the Professor Ogundipe Innovation and Science Foundation (POISF). The programme is positioned to attract students, researchers, and innovators with bold, research-backed ideas aimed at addressing practical, real-world challenges.
POIC 4.0 provides a structured platform where participants can refine and transform their concepts into workable solutions. The process begins with proposal submissions, followed by a screening phase to identify viable entries. Selected applicants will move on to pitch their ideas, after which semi-finalists will be chosen to proceed into the prototype development stage. The programme will conclude with a grand finale, where outstanding innovations will be showcased.
According to the outlined timeline, applications opened on February 9 and will close on March 30, 2026, while proposal screening runs until April 15. Successful applicants will be invited to pitch between April 16 and April 30, with semi-finalists announced between May 15 and May 31. Prototype development is scheduled for June, ahead of the final event holding from July 1 to July 7, 2026.
Interested participants are required to submit their applications through the official portal at https://poic.unilag.edu.ng/poic/. The organisers are also open to sponsorship and partnership opportunities to support innovation and expand the programme’s impact.
