FG, NiDCOM CELEBRATE 12-YEAR-OLD DIASPORA INNOVATOR TRANSFORMING AIR QUALITY 24-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Federal Government has recognized 12-year-old Nigerian-American tech prodigy, Eniola Shokunbi, for her groundbreaking innovation in air filtration technology.
Eniola, who has secured $11.5 million in grants in the U.S. state of Connecticut, developed a cutting-edge air filtration system aimed at tackling air pollution and improving respiratory health.
On a visit to Nigeria, she was received by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa praised Eniola as “a beacon of hope and a true ambassador of Nigerian excellence,” emphasizing the importance of nurturing young innovators and celebrating diaspora achievements.
Similarly, the Minister of Youth Development, Olawande described Eniola as a symbol of the Nigeria of tomorrow.
“Her story is not only one of innovation, but of resilience, vision, and hope,” he said, reaffirming the ministry’s dedication to youth empowerment and support.
Eniola, who was accompanied by her mother and two sisters, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and pledged to bring her invention home to help improve air quality across Nigerian cities.
“I want to inspire other Nigerian children to dream big, solve problems, and make a difference,” she said.
Eniola is currently in Nigeria as a guest of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council in Abuja.
The visit underscores the federal government’s growing commitment to celebrating youth innovation—especially among Nigerians in the diaspora—as key contributors to national development.