Osun State University (UNIOSUN) achieved a global milestone on Thursday, 9 July 2026, after emerging as the winner of the prestigious Hult Prize Programme of the Year 2025, recognising its outstanding student innovation and entrepreneurship efforts.
The achievement marked UNIOSUN’s first participation in the international competition, which brings together students from more than 2,000 universities across over 120 countries to develop solutions to major global challenges.
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The university’s success was driven by Miss Dosumu Fisayo Florish, a final-year Public Health student who served as the pioneer Campus Director of the Hult Prize at UNIOSUN.
In recognition of her leadership and contribution to the programme, Dosumu received a 75 per cent scholarship to Hult International Business School and an invitation to attend the Hult Prize Global Finals in London, United Kingdom.
The Hult Prize award followed a series of initiatives introduced across the university’s six campuses, including awareness campaigns, mentorship programmes, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions and digital engagement activities.
Under Dosumu’s leadership, the programme reached more than 3,000 students, creating opportunities for young people to develop entrepreneurial ideas and practical solutions linked to sustainable development.
The university also extended the initiative beyond its campuses through the “Catch Them Young” project, which introduced over 1,000 secondary school students to innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship.
The Hult Prize, established in partnership with the United Nations, Hult International Business School and the Clinton Global Initiative, is widely recognised as a platform that encourages students to create businesses and solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
UNIOSUN’s programme gained international recognition throughout the competition, first ranking among Nigeria’s leading campus programmes before advancing to the Top Five Campus Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The university later emerged as the Sub-Saharan Africa Programme of the Year before claiming the overall Hult Prize Programme of the Year 2025 award.
Reacting to the achievement, UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, described the recognition as evidence of the institution’s commitment to innovation, academic excellence and global competitiveness.
Professor Adebooye praised Dosumu and the Hult Prize team for their dedication, saying the success reflected the university’s efforts to create an environment where students can transform ideas into solutions with real social impact.
He added that the award strengthens UNIOSUN’s growing reputation as a centre for student-led innovation and sustainable development in Africa.
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The university management congratulated Dosumu and the entire Hult Prize team, reaffirming its commitment to supporting creativity, entrepreneurship and leadership among students.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
