A 12-year-old Nigerian, Joshua Obadin, has been named one of the ten winners of the prestigious IDEASforEARS Children’s Invention Contest, earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Austria.
Obadin, a Lagos-based young innovator, was recognized for inventing a sleepwear cover designed for his friend, Master Mikel, who uses a cochlear implant.
“Mikel can’t hear without his device, and when he removes it at bedtime, everything goes silent—even if there’s danger,” Obadin explained. “I wanted to create something to help keep him safe. Knowing my idea could help others too makes me happy.”
According to MED-EL, the hearing implant company behind the competition, the 2025 IDEASforEARS contest challenged children aged six to 12 to develop innovations that improve the lives of people with hearing loss.
This year’s competition attracted 355 participants from 24 countries, with young inventors showcasing a variety of solutions, including wearable devices and solar-powered hearing aids.
Head Judge Geoffrey Ball praised the contestants, stating:
“These kids do not just see limits – they see possibilities. Their curiosity, compassion, and fresh perspectives remind us that innovation begins with imagination and the courage to turn challenges into solutions.”
As a winner, Obadin will travel with a parent to Innsbruck, Austria, in June, where he will meet other young inventors and participate in workshops and innovation tours.
Other winners hail from China, Brazil, the United States, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Poland.
Since its launch in 2017, the IDEASforEARS contest has received over 1,700 submissions from more than 45 countries, showcasing the creativity of young minds in tackling hearing-related challenges.