Call for Entries
Bringing Palm Wine Tapping into the Modern Era
Safe Lift. Maximum Yield.
Can you engineer the future? Win a share of the ₦31 Million Innovation Fund and help transform a traditional, high-risk trade into a safer and more scalable enterprise.
The Challenge
Palm wine is a highly nutritious and commercially valuable product, both locally and internationally. Yet the traditional method of harvesting it depends on manual climbing that is dangerous, exhausting, and increasingly unsustainable.
With the aging population of skilled tappers phasing out, the industry faces a serious continuity challenge. Younger generations are understandably hesitant to adopt a process defined by physical risk.
This competition invites Nigeria’s brightest engineering minds to introduce a practical intervention through technology and design.
Participants are required to design and fabricate a Safe Mechanical Palm Wine Harvesting System under one of two solution categories:
A lifting system that safely elevates the operator with absolute user protection and structural stability.
A remotely or mechanically operated solution that eliminates climbing risk and enables efficient harvesting from the ground.
Every solution must demonstrate strong practical relevance, safety logic, and clear commercial viability.
Failsafe harness systems for lifts, or zero-danger operating logic for automated solutions.
Must be mechanically driven, hydraulically powered, or battery operated.
Lightweight enough for single-person transport across rural and dense terrain.
Must scale effectively to the height of mature palm trees.
Cost-effective enough for practical adoption and deployment in local communities.
Strong use of locally sourced materials and fabricated parts for grassroots commercial viability.
Undergraduate Students
Postgraduate Students
NYSC Members
Independent Tech Innovators
A special call is issued to Engineering Faculties across Nigeria to encourage broad student participation.
Safety & Structural Integrity
Zero compromise on user protection, stability, and operating confidence.
Affordability & Commercial Viability
Scalable manufacturing cost suitable for grassroots deployment.
Ease of Use & Flexibility
Straightforward operation requiring minimal technical training.
Local Content & Portability
High utilization of local materials and ease of deployment in dense bush terrain.
A ₦31 Million total investment to support innovation, prototype development, and national visibility.
Grand Prize
₦10M
Awarded to the overall winning solution.
Prototype Grants
₦15M
Top 3 finalists receive up to ₦5,000,000 each for physical prototype development.
Travel Stipends
₦1.5M
Top 3 finalists receive ₦500,000 each for pitch defense travel support.
Phase 1
Call for Proposals (Online Portal) | April 27 - May 25
Phase 2
Technical Review & Collation | May 29 - June 10
Phase 3
Announcement of Top 3 Finalists | June 11
Phase 4
Final Pitch Defense (Aba/Enugu) | June 18
Phase 5
Invitation of Finalists Unveiling | July 17
Phase 6
Prototype Build and Announcement of Winner | July - October 2026
Join a national movement to transform tradition through innovation and develop a practical engineering solution for a safer, scalable, and more profitable palm wine harvesting industry.
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