UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN RECORDS STRONG DEBUT AT UNIVERSITY DUEL '26 COMPETITION, DEFEATS CALEB UNIVERSITY

By Faith Ajewole

The University of Ibadan has recorded an impressive debut at the 2026 DUEL University Competition, defeating Caleb University with a commanding 24–6 score in the preliminary stage of the contest.

The feat was achieved on Sunday, February 7, 2026, marking UI’s first appearance in the nationally televised academic competition.

Representing the University of Ibadan were three undergraduates selected through a rigorous Computer-Based Test (CBT):

• Akinnagbe Samuel, a 300-level Mechanical Engineering student

• Olutayo Abayomi Elijah, a 200-level Medicine and Surgery student

• Oluwole Emmanuel Adeolu, a 300-level Industrial and Engineering student

  

  
  

DUEL University is an annual STEM-focused competition organised by STEM Africa, aimed at testing and showcasing the intellectual capacity of Nigerian undergraduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The competition is structured to bridge the gap between theoretical academic knowledge and real-world application, while promoting critical thinking, rapid problem-solving, and data-driven reasoning.

Participation in the competition begins with an online CBT, which serves as the primary selection mechanism for identifying the top three undergraduate representatives from each institution. The competition is open to undergraduates not above 300 level, with the top 16 universities emerging from the CBT qualifying for the televised rounds.

The 2026 edition of DUEL University officially commenced in February, with episodes airing every Saturday and Sunday from February 1 to April 19, 2026.

With the competition still underway and the University of Ibadan outperforming its opponent across multiple segments, attention now shifts to subsequent rounds as participating institutions vie for a place in the semi-finals.