By Okiki Laoye
On November 28th, I walked into Adeline Hall at Lead City University with a familiar feeling — the same feeling I had years ago as a student roaming this campus, dreaming of the platforms I wished existed. This time, I wasn’t walking in as a student. I was there to give a keynote speech, meet the leadership, and introduce a new creative ecosystem we’ve been building: Digital Escape App.
The occasion was the Research & Innovation Pitch Challenge, a gathering of the school’s brightest minds. Faculties showed up strong: Natural & Applied Sciences, Communication & Information Science, Pharmacy — all presenting their ideas with confidence that immediately reminded me why young people are Africa’s greatest asset.
The energy in the room felt like the beginning of something.
As each group pitched, you could feel the hunger, the ambition, the refusal to be limited by the economy they inherited. The winning team from Natural & Applied Sciences took home ₦1,000,000 plus sound equipment, with Communication & Information Science and Pharmacy taking second and third place. Their reactions alone made the trip worth it. Their pitch, FarmX, is already live and is performing decently at this early stage.
But beyond the competition, this visit meant something personal.
I spoke to the students about the creative world we’re building: the Escape Marketplace, where a young designer, photographer, painter, or filmmaker can upload their work and earn from it without waiting for a “break.” I showed them the Digital Escape App, letting them test features, join our community, and see firsthand the systems we’ve built to help creators grow.
We met with faculty, networked with students, took contacts, and unbundled their ideas, the same way someone once unbundled mine.
And then came the moment that felt surreal: Presenting a plaque to the Pro-Chancellor & Chairman, Professor Jide Owoeye, in appreciation of his support for our vision. It felt like closing a loop, returning to a place connected to my creative beginnings, now as someone building opportunities for others.
The trip was hosted by Mrs. Jumoke Adejobi, whose warmth and professionalism made the day smooth for us. We left Lead City University inspired, encouraged, and more certain than ever that the future of African innovation will come from places like this.
The Digital Escape app will be launching fully in Q2 2025, with beta testing already in motion. And after meeting these students, I’m convinced: we’re building the right tools for the right generation.
