A group of Caleb University computer science students has won top honours at the Bells University of Technology Hackathon, thanks to their innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solution for accurately assessing mango ripeness.
The winning project, named Valor, is a cutting-edge application powered by computer vision and deep learning, capable of accurately determining the ripeness level of mangoes. Developed to assist stakeholders across the agricultural value chain — from farmers and distributors to consumers — the tool aims to address persistent issues of fruit spoilage and post-harvest losses.
The students behind the breakthrough are Harmony Abayomi, a final-year Software and Computer Vision Engineer; Nwachukwu Chibuzor, a 400-level Data and AI Engineer; and Efod Freda, a 400-level Data Analyst. Their application, affectionately dubbed “the Smart, Bold, Brainy, Savvy, Mango Master,” won praise from judges for its technical sophistication and practical relevance.
In a statement on Thursday, the team said their inspiration came from the need to combat food wastage and increase the efficiency of fruit quality checks.
“Detecting ripeness and spoilage in mangoes remains a significant challenge. Overripe fruits lead to wastage and loss of value, while underripe ones fail to meet the expectations of consumers. Traditional methods like visual inspection are subjective and often unreliable,” the team said.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Professor Sunday Adewale, commended the students’ achievement, describing it as a reflection of the institution’s drive toward practical learning and innovation.
“Caleb University has become a colossal hub for innovation and academic excellence,” he said. “The success of Valor is a testament to our commitment to nurturing innovation, academic excellence, and real-world problem-solving.”
Professor Adewale also emphasised that Caleb’s educational model encourages collaboration across disciplines, enabling students to develop market-ready solutions in today’s technology-driven economy.
Dr. Adeniyi Akanni, Head of the Computer Science Department, and Mr. Ajala, the team’s coordinator, jointly described Valor as “a sophisticated web and mobile application that leverages advanced machine learning and AI algorithms to analyse images and data.”
They noted that the project represents a vital fusion of technology and agriculture — a contribution aligned with global trends aimed at improving food systems, minimising waste, and ensuring quality assurance in produce supply chains.
