Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, has celebrated the outstanding achievement of 12-year-old Nigerian-American tech prodigy, Eniola Shokunbi, who recently gained global attention for inventing a revolutionary air filtration system and securing $11.5 million in grants in the United States.
Eniola, who is currently in Nigeria as a guest of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister alongside her mother and two sisters. Her innovation, developed to combat air pollution and improve respiratory health, has been lauded internationally and is seen as a major contribution to environmental technology.
12-Year-Old Nigerian-American Inventor, Eniola Shokunbi with Hon Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa,Chairman/CEO,Nigerians in Diaspora Commission(NiDCOM) during her visit to NiDCOM headquarters Abuja
While receiving her, Hon. Olawande described Eniola as a shining example of what Nigerian youth can achieve when empowered.
“Eniola represents the future Nigeria must believe in. Her story is one of innovation, resilience, and hope. We must do more to create an environment where young Nigerians, at home and abroad, can thrive without limits,” he said.
The Minister emphasized the need for more strategic engagement with young talents and reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to work with institutions like the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to bridge the gap between youth and government support systems.
Earlier, Eniola and her family visited Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, who also commended her brilliance and global impact. Dabiri-Erewa described Eniola as “a beacon of hope and a true ambassador of Nigerian excellence,” urging other young Nigerians to draw inspiration from her story.
Eniola, in her remarks, expressed a strong desire to bring her innovation to Nigeria, stating:
“I want to inspire other Nigerian children to dream big, solve problems, and make a difference. Any problem has a solution it’s up to you to find it.”
The visit highlighted the country’s increasing focus on recognizing and supporting the creative potential of young Nigerians in the diaspora and leveraging their achievements for national development.
