Nigeria’s quest for home-grown solutions to water pollution has received a boost as Ambassador Lola Akande has commended young Nigerian innovator, Chiedu Richards, for developing a self-healing biofilter water purification system that attracted recognition at the 2026 Stockholm Junior Water Prize International Final in Sweden.
Akande, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, received Richards and members of the Nigerian delegation following their participation in the international competition, held in Stockholm as part of World Water Week.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is an international competition that provides young people with a platform to showcase scientific innovations addressing water-related challenges. National finalists from participating countries present their projects to an international jury, highlighting promising ideas for improving water quality, conservation and sustainability.
During the engagement, Akande praised the Nigerian delegation for its creativity, scientific curiosity and commitment to developing practical solutions to real-world problems. She particularly congratulated Richards, whose project, titled “Self-healing Intelligent Biofilter Water Purification System”, was recognised among the outstanding innovations presented at the competition.
The project, jointly developed by two students from Prime Seed of Abraham High School, Ibusa, Delta State, explores the use of beneficial bacteria isolated from fermented oil bean to create a biofilm capable of removing heavy metals and organic compounds from contaminated water.
Designed to replenish and repair itself, the system offers a potentially sustainable approach to water purification, with implications for efforts to improve access to clean water and address water pollution.
Although Nigeria did not emerge as the overall winner, Akande described the recognition accorded the project as evidence of the ingenuity, creativity and potential of Nigerian young people.
She encouraged Richards and other young innovators to regard the international experience as a stepping stone to greater achievements, urging them to sustain their curiosity, pursue further experiments and develop solutions capable of making a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
The Ambassador also stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment for young Nigerians to translate promising scientific ideas into practical applications.
She called for collaboration among Nigerian universities, research institutions, government agencies and private-sector organisations to support further research, testing and refinement of the innovation, noting that such partnerships could help move promising ideas from the classroom to wider application.
Akande further highlighted the project’s relevance to Nigeria’s development priorities, particularly the need to expand access to safe and clean water while promoting sustainable water management.
According to her, encouraging young Nigerians to pursue science, technology, research and innovation aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to initiatives that promote youth development, scientific advancement and innovation, while encouraging Nigerian students to participate in international platforms that expose their talents and ideas to global audiences.
As part of the reception, the Ambassador presented Richards with a gift and a Letter of Commendation in recognition of his achievement and his representation of Nigeria at the international competition.
She also acknowledged the contributions of his school, teachers, parents and other stakeholders whose encouragement and support helped make the achievement possible.
The engagement reinforces the Nigerian Embassy in Sweden’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Sweden in water management, environmental sustainability, scientific research, innovation and education.
It also highlights the capacity of young Nigerians to contribute fresh ideas to pressing development challenges and underscores the importance of investing in their talents to advance national development.