Team Pharmacode from the University of Lagos has emerged as the winner of the AFRETEC-UNILAG Innovation in Health Challenge 2025, beating over 13 other teams from universities across Nigeria.
The Old Great Hall, College of Medicine (CMUL), ldi-Araba, venue of the Grand Finale of the AFRETEC-UNILAG Innovation-in-Health Challenge 2025 was a potpourri of students from nine (9) Universities across Nigeria – Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE); Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH); McPherson University; Thomas Adewunmi University, Kwara; University of Benin (UNIBEN); University of Ibadan (UI); University of Jos (UNIJOS); University of Lagos (UNILAG) and University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED).
Team Pharmacode (UNILAG) secured the top spot with its innovation “Nutritec Ai”, smiling home with a whooping sum of two million naira (N2,000,000). Nutritec AI is an at-home, saliva-based MammaGlobin test strip and web app that helps women aged 25-55 quickly, affordably, and painlessly detect their breast cancer risk, as well as provide personalised nutritional advice and hospital links immediately.
The judges were wowed by the team’s convenient (home-based), easy-to-use and affordable solution, which is science-backed [combines protein biomarker + genetic risk testing (BRCA)]; non-invasive; easily accessible as it has a USSD feature for rural dwellers without internet access; and tailored to the African market, even with genetic diversity, amidst other features.