OAU Wins 2026 University Duel Competition

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has emerged the winner of 2026 edition of University Duel Competition following an intense 11-week tournament that involved 186 students from 62 universities.

Sponsored by MTN Nigeria, University Duel now in its 2nd edition is a premier competition showcasing Nigeria’s talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

The awards ceremony that was held at OAU had participants tested in Applied Mathematics, Data Analysis, General Knowledge, and Verbal Reasoning, underscoring the technical prowess driving Nigeria’s digital future.

During the award presentation, OAU Dean of Student Affairs Prof. John. Odedire who lauded MTN Nigeria sponsorship, described the occasion as historic and unique because it was the first time that an institution will win both the University Duel and the Smart Challenge competitions at a sweep.

Also, Oladapo Ojo, the founder, STEM Africa Initiative explained that the competition serves as a catalyst for helping students see the direct benefit of STEM education adding that MTN Nigeria saw the initiative and put their support as a proud sponsor to the STEM itself.

“If Africa and Nigeria are to move forward, we must move beyond merely consuming technology to developing our own,” he stated.

Through this sponsorship, MTN awarded N3m prize to the University Duel winners and N1m to the Smart Challenge champions, alongside valuable scholarships.