UI lecturers develop innovation to improve hearing

THREE lecturers from the University of Ibadan (UI) have developed a technology known as ‘Chord Hearing Device’ designed to improve hearing.

The auditory-aid technology was developed by a team of UI lecturers led by Adebolajo Adeyemo. Other members of the team are Bolanle Oladejo and Oluwasola Adeniyi.

Acting director, Public Affairs, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Abdulmumin Oniyangi, confirmed that the project was sponsored by TETFund under its Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) programme.

He added that the initiative, which has started getting global recognition, would help improve access to affordable hearing aids in Nigeria.

The organisation also said the device will be presented at the TETFAIR’s final showcase event at Innov8 Hub in Abuja alongside other projects.

Oniyangi said: “Innovative products developed under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) programme have started getting global attention as the ‘Chord Hearing Device’ developed by a team under the TETFAIR initiative recently got opportunity for exhibition at the prestigious Sheba ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) Global Entrepreneurship programme.

“The Chord Hearing Device is an innovative, affordable, and self-programmable hearing aid developed by Dr Adebolajo Adeyemo and his team (Team 12) comprising Associate Professor Bolanle Oladejo and Dr Oluwasola Adeniji, all from the University of Ibadan.

“The team was selected to participate in TETFAIR based on its idea for a solution to the challenge of affordable and accessible hearing devices in Nigeria.

“Since the inception of TETFAIR, with the support of innovation, technology and venture creation experts, the team has made significant progress with the completion of the development of the first prototype, which is now being tested with users, as part of the proof-of-concept phase of the TETFAIR.

“Dr Adeyemo represented the team at the ARC programme, where for 12 weeks, 29 start-ups from Israel, USA, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Nigeria, South Africa and Australia worked on finding solutions to pressing healthcare challenges.

“Based on the viability of his idea and good impression, Dr Adeyemo was selected among the 11 healthcare researchers from five continents to present their innovation to investors and experts at the final event of the Sheba ARC Global Entrepreneurship programme, held in Israel.

“Eventually, his innovation and pitch led him to also being selected among the three start-ups that presented their innovations at the ARC Global Summit in Tel Aviv on  June 14, 2023.

“The TETFAIR journey of Dr Adeyemo and his team is still ongoing and in the coming months, based on the feedback from the users’ tests, the prototype will be refined and the product development will continue with the support of TETFAIR experts at Innov8 Hub, Abuja.”