- 12-year-old Nigerian girl, Eniola Shokunbi, receives $11.5 million (N19.4 billion) funding for air-filtering invention.
- Her device, created as part of a class assignment, removes 99% of viruses from the air.
A 12-year-old Nigerian-American girl, Eniola Shokunbi, has made waves with her groundbreaking invention—a device capable of filtering and purifying the air—which has earned her widespread recognition and significant financial backing.
Eniola, a fifth-grade student at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy in Middletown, Connecticut, was assigned a class project to develop a solution for potential future pandemics like COVID-19. Her impressive creation, an air purifier, not only met the assignment’s challenge but went on to receive acclaim for its practical and life-saving potential.
Tested at the University of Connecticut, the purifier was confirmed to eliminate 99% of airborne viruses. It has since undergone further testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which verified its effectiveness.
The Connecticut State Bond Commission has awarded Eniola $11.5 million (approximately N19.4 billion) to mass-produce the device for schools, marking a significant step toward widespread use.
Eniola explained how the device works: “The air goes through all the sides, and it comes out of the top, so it filters in and out.” She hopes to continue securing funding for further scientific advancements, emphasizing the importance of science in safeguarding health.
“I hope people realize that the only thing standing between them and getting sick is science,” she said, stressing the importance of supporting innovative solutions.
On her website, Eniola expressed her determination: “I played a pivotal role in securing an $11.5 million grant to fund the construction and installation of DIY air filters in schools throughout Connecticut. My goal is to expand these efforts to ensure every classroom, nationwide and globally, benefits from cleaner air.”
