Announcing the Winners of the Inaugural 5 Minute Thesis (5MT) Competition
The Bioresources Valorization Laboratory (BVL) is thrilled to announce the winners of its first-ever 5-Minute Thesis (5MT) Competition. Designed to challenge final-year students to distill complex, high-impact scientific investigations into concise, compelling five-minute presentations, the competition served as a powerful showcase for the next generation of chemical engineering innovators.
The event brought together brilliant minds from various STEM fields, testing not only the technical rigor of their research but also their capacity for effective science communication. From waste-to-wealth frameworks to advanced ecological preservation models, the presentations highlighted actionable, real-world solutions to pressing environmental and industrial challenges.
Meet the Podium Finishers
Taking 1st place was Michael Ogbebor, a 500L Chemical Engineering student, whose research focused on combining plantain stem and sugarcane bagasse to produce packaging-grade paper. By valorizing structural agricultural waste, Michael’s work offers a highly sustainable, circular-economy alternative to commercial deforestation-dependent paper production.
Securing 2nd place was Ophori Anita Ohenerukevwe, a 500L Chemical Engineering student whose research focused on developing an EDTA-functionalized Fe₃O₄-loaded activated carbon from coconut shells for the simultaneous removal of lead and cadmium from water using an integrated RSM-ANN-SHAP framework and validation. Her research brilliantly bridges advanced machine learning algorithms with innovative material science to combat hazardous heavy metal water contamination.
Coming in 3rd place was Peace Kolade Babarinde, also a 500L Chemical Enginering student, whose research involved investigating the use of rice husk ash and soursop seed oil extract to formulate a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic media. His work introduces a non-toxic, completely biodegradable barrier against industrial degradation, successfully replacing hazardous toxic chemical alternatives.
Perspectives from the Cohort
"Beyond the competitive accolades, the 5MT platform proved to be an invaluable developmental catalyst for all participants. The challenge of translating dense academic equations into public-facing problem statements inspired personal and professional growth across the entire cohort.
The 5MT competition was quite inspiring. Seeing the different presentations highlighted how research can be applied across so many fields and how each discipline contributes to solving real-world problems. Although I was not in the top three, I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to participate. The experience challenged me to communicate my research more clearly, think critically about its impact, and grow as both a researcher and a presenter.
I'm leaving this competition with valuable lessons, renewed motivation, and an even greater commitment to improving my research and science communication skills. On to the next challenge!"
~ Juliet Eguae
"The 5-Minute Thesis (5MT) competition, being the first of its kind, was actually well put together, and overall, it was a really impactful experience for me. Participating in it made me rethink how I approach presentations, especially learning how to pass across the main idea of my work clearly within a short timeframe. It taught me to be more intentional with my time, what I chose to include, and how I delivered it. Even though I wasn’t one of the winners, I can honestly say the experience helped me improve in how I present and communicate my work. Looking back, I appreciated how structured and fair the judging criteria were. I also learned a lot beyond the main competition, especially from other parts of the program and from watching other participants. Overall, the event really shaped how I think about presentations and communicating research."
~ Godwin Okhumata
"It was an amazing time. I signed up late for the 5MT, so I presented last. At first I was lackadaisical and didn’t want to apply.
Then Prof Andrew said in class, “This is free money, yet people aren’t applying. What has the system done to us?” That woke me up. I was scared of public speaking and doubted myself.
So I decided to face it. Better to try and fail than not try at all. I put in the work. And surprisingly, I came the winner. It was so encouraging for me and gave me courage to start taking step towards what I want"
~ Michael Ogbebor (Winner)
"Honestly, the experience was both enjoyable and validating for me. It was my first time presenting my research to an audience, so I didn’t know what to expect. Since I chose my project topic myself and had spent months working on it, it meant a lot to see people genuinely interested in it and engaged with my presentation. Even making it to the finals felt like a win because I knew the research proposals had been reviewed beforehand, which reassured me that my work was worth sharing. One of my favourite parts of the experience was interacting with the researchers at the Bioresources Valorization Laboratory.
Their passion for research, especially Prof. Andrew’s dedication to mentoring young researchers, was truly inspiring. The competition also gave me a lot more confidence in myself and made me much less nervous about my final year project defense. More importantly, it strengthened my interest in research and influenced how I think about my future after graduation. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity, and beyond winning second place, the experience has left me even more motivated."
~ Anita Oghenerukevwe Ophori (1st Runner Up)
Looking Ahead...
The success of this first edition marks a milestone for the Bioresources Valorization Laboratory. By bridging the gap between rigorous laboratory discovery and impactful communication, BVL continues to empower engineering students to step out of the lab and into the global conversation on sustainability.
Congratulations to our winners and to every participant who stepped up to the podium!