The Federal University of Technology Akure ,FUTA has once again demonstrated its leadership in technology and innovation on the continental stage. At the Deep Learning Indaba 2025 Community Challenge in Kigali, Rwanda, FUTA’s student team, DSN AI+ FUTA, impressed judges and participants alike with their groundbreaking project CLEANSIGHT; an AI-powered platform that verifies community cleanups, rewards participation, and maps waste hotspots. It won them the 3rd position and a cash prize of $1000.
Presented with clarity and vision by Oluwaferanmi Oladepo, a 400-level student of Information and Communication Engineering, CLEANSIGHT captured the spirit of community-driven innovation that the Indaba seeks to promote. Together with Oluwaferanmi, Nunsi Shiaki, a 400-level Computer Engineering student; Godswill Amos, a 200-level Computer Engineering student; and final-year Computer Science students Abisoye Durojaiye and Agbaje Ayomipo developed CleanSight a solution to one of African environmental challenge. Their creativity, teamwork, and commitment secured third place overall and a $1,000 cash prize for FUTA.
The success is particularly significant given the challenge’s competitiveness. Over 130 submissions were received from across the continent, but only five teams were selected as finalists to present live before a distinguished audience of experts, scholars, and innovators. For FUTA to emerge from this field as one of Africa’s top three community AI projects underlines the University’s growing reputation as a hub of world-class innovation and research.
The Deep Learning Indaba is not just any conference. It is the largest annual gathering of Artificial Intelligence researchers and practitioners in Africa, and one of the most respected convenings of AI talent in the world. Each year it draws hundreds of participants, from graduate students to industry leaders, all united by the goal of advancing cutting-edge research, building capacity, and ensuring Africa takes its rightful place in the global AI conversation. For FUTA students to stand on this stage, and to leave with a podium finish, is a powerful testament to the University’s academic strength and innovative spirit.
This achievement is more than a victory for the team, it is a defining moment for FUTA and for Nigeria. It affirms the University’s mission of nurturing graduates who are not only academically excellent but also globally competitive, socially conscious, and prepared to shape the future of technology in Africa and beyond.
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