The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) on Tuesday May 5 ,2026 was formally recognised as the Runner-Up of UniversityDUEL 2026, Nigeria’s premier STEM undergraduate competition, at a prize presentation ceremony held in their honour.
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The recognition crowns a remarkable season in which FUTA’s three representatives (Faith Alabetutu, Matthew Ogundinwin & Akinola Olayinka) went unbeaten through five rounds of competition before bowing to Obafemi Awolowo University in the Grand Finale on April 19, 2026.
Out of 62 universities and 1,548 STEM undergraduates that entered the competition nationwide, FUTA finished second. A result that reflects the extraordinary caliber of their students and the strength of STEM education at the institution.
FUTA’s first appearance in UniversityDUEL 2026 was on the 7th of February in their opening preliminary match, where they faced UNILAG, the team that had topped the CBT qualifying phase. FUTA won with a commanding 52–15 victory.
Two weeks later, on February 21, they turned their attention to EKSU and delivered an even more emphatic statement, winning 65–8, a 57-point gap that proved their relentless momentum.
On March 15, they completed their preliminary games with a 44–28 victory over UNIBEN, advancing to the quarter-finals with a perfect 3-0 record.
The quarter-final on March 22 against LAUTECH was the season’s most nerve-shredding contest for the FUTA team. LAUTECH had strategised their way into the knockouts and refused to yield. FUTA prevailed by just two points, 37 to 35.
The semi-final on April 4 against UNN was an outstanding match. Predictions had suggested a close game, but FUTA produced arguably their finest performance of the season, racing to a 106–48 victory in an absolutely outstanding display that sent the nation into a frenzy and confirmed their place in the Grand Finale.
On April 19, 2026, before a national television audience on Africa Magic Family (DSTV Channel 154) and YouTube @thestemafrica, FUTA faced Obafemi Awolowo University in the Grand Finale of University Duel 2026.
Their opponents had been equally dominant throughout the season, and the contest lived up to its billing as the Battle of the Best Brains.
Though the result was not in FUTA’s favour, their campaign, five wins from five, a 106-point semi-final, and a fearless run through the bracket, earned them the admiration and respect of the entire nation.
The presentation ceremony held at the Institution’s TI Francis Auditorium marks the formal recognition of FUTA’s outstanding achievement in UniversityDUEL 2026.
Leading theSTEMAfrica Initiative team to FUTA were Mr Oladapo Ojo, the founder and consultant, Dr Ore Sofekun, who formally presented the runners-up prize to the FUTA team in the presence of the university community led by the Vice Chancellor Academic, Professor Taiwo Amos who represented the Vice Chancellor Professor Adenike Oladiji.
Produced by JustMedia Productions and powered by theSTEMAfrica Initiative, UniversityDUEL stands as a flagship edu-tainment project from the creators of Cowbellpedia, InterswitchSPAK, CHAMP High School Quiz, and more.
Designed to spotlight intellectual excellence, the show pits top-tier undergraduates against each other in high-intensity quiz battles that test speed, accuracy, and depth of knowledge across STEM and general-knowledge categories. It’s a celebration of brainpower, competitive grit, and national pride.
The project is supported by partners, including MTN, whose continued commitment to education and innovation helps drive the growth of STEM initiatives across Nigeria.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.