UNIOSUN records global history, wins prestigious Hult Prize Award

Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has recorded another landmark international achievement, emerging as the winner of the prestigious Hult Prize Programme of the Year 2025, a global recognition celebrating excellence in student innovation and entrepreneurship.

According to a statement issued by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, the feat was recorded during UNIOSUN’s maiden participation in the Hult Prize, one of the world’s largest student-driven innovation platforms, which brings together more than 2,000 universities from over 120 countries.

The University’s historic success was spearheaded by Miss Dosumu Fisayo Florish, a final-year student of the Department of Public Health, who served as the Pioneer Campus Director of the Hult Prize at UNIOSUN.

In recognition of her outstanding leadership and exceptional contribution to the programme, she was awarded a 75 per cent scholarship to Hult International Business School and invited to participate in the Hult Prize Global Finals in London, United Kingdom.

The Hult Prize is a globally renowned initiative established in partnership with the United Nations, Hult International Business School and the Clinton Global Initiative to empower university students to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to pressing global challenges.

The competition has become one of the world’s foremost platforms for promoting youth entrepreneurship, leadership and the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Despite participating for the first time, UNIOSUN distinguished itself by establishing a vibrant Hult Prize ecosystem that fostered innovation and entrepreneurship across its six campuses.

Under Miss Dosumu’s leadership, the University successfully implemented extensive awareness campaigns, mentorship programmes, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions, faculty engagement sessions and digital outreach initiatives that engaged more than 3,000 students.

The programme also extended its impact beyond the University community through the “Catch Them Young” initiative, which introduced over 1,000 secondary school students to innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship and sustainable development. These initiatives significantly strengthened the University’s culture of innovation while fostering strategic collaborations with stakeholders committed to youth development and sustainable growth.

The quality and impact of the University’s programme earned UNIOSUN progressive recognition within the global Hult Prize ecosystem. The institution was first ranked among Nigeria’s top-performing campus programmes from over 80 participating universities before advancing to become one of the Top Five Campus Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, selected from institutions across more than 30 countries. It subsequently emerged Sub-Saharan Africa Programme of the Year before clinching the coveted Hult Prize Programme of the Year 2025 award.

Reacting to the achievement, the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, described the award as another affirmation of the University’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation and global competitiveness. He commended Miss Dosumu Fisayo Florish for her exemplary leadership, resilience and dedication, noting that her accomplishment has further enhanced the University’s growing international reputation.

Professor Adebooye said the recognition reflects UNIOSUN’s deliberate investment in creating an enabling environment where students are empowered to translate knowledge into innovative solutions to societal challenges. He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, research, creativity and international collaboration as part of its vision of producing globally competitive graduates.

The Vice-Chancellor added that the latest global recognition underscores UNIOSUN’s emergence as a leading hub for student-led innovation and sustainable development in Africa. He noted that the achievement adds to the University’s growing portfolio of international awards, research breakthroughs and strategic partnerships, further consolidating its position as one of Nigeria’s leading public universities.

The Management of Osun State University congratulates Miss Dosumu Fisayo Florish and the entire Hult Prize UNIOSUN team on the outstanding accomplishment and reiterates its commitment to providing an environment that nurtures innovation, scholarship and leadership while producing graduates equipped to make meaningful contributions to national development and the global community.