The AI-powered CropDiseaseDetector, designed by a group of students from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has won the Huawei ICT Skills Competition Global Finals, held in Shenzhen, China, from May 20 to 25, 2025.
The team, tagged TeamABU2024, comprised a student from the Department of Computer Science, Hadiza Mohammed, and two students from the Department of Computer Engineering, Sufiyan Ibrahim and Lawal Dundu Haruna.
They specifically won the star prize in the AI/Innovation Track of the competition. Their instructor was Dr. Zaharuddeen Haruna of the Department of Computer Engineering.
Their innovation, the AI-powered CropDiseaseDetector, is capable of detecting crop diseases in yam, sorghum, cassava, wheat, rice, beans, soybean, tomato, potato, and groundnut.
Prof. M.B. Muazu, Director of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre, ABU, who briefed the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, stated that the device is also capable of analysing soil health and measuring nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, temperature, moisture, pH, and conductivity.
A statement from the Public Affairs Directorate of ABU quoted Prof. Muazu as saying:
“The tool provides results and recommendations in multiple languages, including English, Pidgin English, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo (both audio and text), as well as Kiswahili, Afrikaans, French, and Arabic (text only).”
According to him, ABU’s CropDiseaseDetector has a mobile app compatible with Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS.
Speaking at the briefing, the VC, Prof. Ahmed, hailed the team’s groundbreaking innovation, urging the students to continue leveraging ABU’s platform for even greater success.
TeamABU2024 Should Be Turned into an Innovation Club – DVC
Harping on the team’s innovation, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Ahmed Doko Ibrahim, suggested that TeamABU2024 be formalised into a club to preserve institutional memory and foster growth and continuity.
He also disclosed that the institution plans to commercialise the device.
Before reaching the global stage, TeamABU2024 had previously won the national and regional rounds of the competition.
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