In a remarkable display of innovation and excellence, a final-year Student of McPherson University has placed the Institution firmly on the continental map by securing a prestigious $5,000 grant from Lisk Africa.

Adesida John, a 400-level Software Engineering student, alongside his team, emerged as beneficiaries of the highly competitive African Founders Grant, an initiative dedicated to empowering visionary young entrepreneurs across Africa through product development support and regional market expansion.

The grant was awarded under Cohort 1 of the Lisk Africa Incubation Programme, a platform designed to nurture promising African startups and accelerate their growth across the continent. Adesida’s winning solution aims to bridge the mentorship gap in tech education by providing affordable, accessible digital guidance to aspiring professionals, particularly students from underrepresented communities.

The Vice-Chancellor, McPherson University, Prof. Francis Igbasan, warmly received Adesida and his team in a brief congratulatory meeting. Sharing a heartfelt handshake with the student, the helmsman joked about their shared State of origin, remarking that it felt as though his own son had won. The University Don, an award-winning scholar himself, commended Adesida’s achievement and urged him to view the accomplishment not as a destination, but as a launching pad for even greater future impact.

Prof. Igbasan also used the occasion to extend his appreciation to Dr. Ibam Emmanuel, Acting Dean of the College of Computing, and the entire College members. He praised the College for maintaining academic and innovative standards that are now being admired by sister institutions.

Referencing feedback from Staff at other universities, he reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting the growth and ambitions of both students and academic departments.

In his response, Dr. Ibam Emmanuel thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his continued support of the College of Computing. He revealed that the College is preparing to roll out strategic awareness campaigns on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing Literacy, with a goal of reducing knowledge gaps across the student body and beyond. He also proposed an annual university-wide event to promote digital innovation, pending the approval of the Institution’s Management.

Prof. Igbasan endorsed the vision of the College and assured the team of his Administration’s full backing. He emphasized the importance of innovation as a cornerstone of McPherson’s academic vision and expressed pride in the growing recognition of student-led achievements.

Speaking with reporters, Adesida John recounted his unexpected journey into tech. Originally set on studying medicine, the COVID-19 lockdown became a turning point, sparking his interest in software development. That experience not only shifted his academic focus but ultimately led him to Software Engineering, where he has since thrived.

Adesida shared that the inspiration behind the winning project stemmed from the high cost and inaccessibility of mentorship in the tech space. “We’ve been able to develop a model that can serve as a mentor, providing professional guidance, training, and support at a very affordable price that an average Nigerian student can afford,” he said.

He affirmed that the University played a key role in his development, citing the commitment of lecturers to both academic excellence and opportunity sharing. His advice to other students hoping to walk a similar path? “First, you have to learn and keep working.”