A team of students from the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has emerged first runner-up at the 2026 World Environment Day Innovation Competition organized by the Cross River State Ministry of Environment, following the presentation of a groundbreaking solution aimed at tackling urban flooding and promoting renewable energy generation.
The competition, held on Friday at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, brought together tertiary institutions from across the state to showcase innovative ideas capable of addressing environmental and climate-related challenges.
The event, themed "Waste Management Innovations for Climate-Resilient Cities," focused on practical solutions that can enhance environmental sustainability and strengthen the resilience of urban communities in the face of climate change.
Representing UNICROSS, students from the Faculties of Biological Sciences and Engineering presented a project titled Urban Run-off to Renewable Energy System (URRE), an innovative model designed to address blocked drainage systems and urban flooding while converting runoff water into renewable energy.
The project attracted the attention of judges and participants for its potential to simultaneously address waste management challenges, improve urban drainage and generate clean energy for sustainable development.
At the end of the competition, the University of Calabar emerged overall winner, while UNICROSS secured second place as the first runner-up. Arthur Jarvis University finished third, while the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa, placed fourth.
The impressive performance earned the UNICROSS team a substantial cash prize and recognition for developing an innovative solution to some of the environmental challenges confronting modern cities.
The team was accompanied by Mr. Ofem Ofem Inah, a Civil Engineering Technologist, whose technical expertise contributed significantly to the development of the project, while the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Hannah Etta, served as team leader.
Members of the team included Samuel Umoh, Eunice Etira, Aretha Okaroh, David Olawuyi, Samuel Patrick, Charles Obi and Abasiefiok Okpuk, drawn from the Faculties of Biological Sciences and Engineering.
Speaking after the competition, members of the team expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor of UNICROSS, Prof. Francisca Bassey, and the university management for fostering an environment that promotes innovation, research and academic excellence.
They noted that the support provided by the institution has continued to inspire students to pursue innovative ideas and compete successfully on major academic and professional platforms.
The students described the achievement as a reflection of the university's growing emphasis on practical research and interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at solving real-world problems.
They also pledged to continue developing innovative solutions capable of contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection within and beyond Cross River State.
By Kingsley Agim
