Meet the Convener
Driving the future of innovation in Lagos State public schools, one student at a time.
Impact
“Innovation is not a luxury. It’s the difference between exclusion and opportunity.”
About the Convener — Freda (Ekara) Efod
Freda Efod is a technology advocate, creative strategist, and community builder focused on expanding access to innovation for public school students across Lagos State.
With a background spanning data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital storytelling, Freda has worked at the intersection of technology, education, and community development. Her experience across financial institutions, global tech communities, and early-stage startups revealed a consistent reality: talent exists everywhere, but access does not.
This insight led to the creation of Innovation Fair Lagos — a platform designed to expose public school students to innovation, problem-solving, and emerging technologies traditionally limited to private institutions.
Innovation Fair Lagos equips students not just to consume technology, but to build, question, and imagine with it — fostering confidence, curiosity, and future-ready skills.
“When students see what’s possible early enough, they stop waiting for permission to dream.”
Professional Milestones
- Led and scaled multiple technology and student-focused innovation communities
- Designed and executed hands-on workshops, hackathons, and mentorship programs
- Worked on data-driven and AI-enabled projects with measurable outcomes
- Advocate for inclusive innovation and public-school technology access
Honors & Recognition
Freda’s work and academic excellence have been recognized across innovation, technology, and education communities:
Co-Founder, Valor AI
Co-founded an agritech startup that has been featured in over 40 media outlets and is currently participating in 2 accelerator programs.
Winner, Bells University Hackathon (2025)
Awarded by Bells University of Technology Engineering Students’ Association for an AI-driven solution developed with Valor AI.
Certificate of Achievement, AI for Impact Hackathon (2024)
Issued by A2SV for innovative problem-solving and impactful use of artificial intelligence.
NNPC/Chevron National University Scholarship Award (2023)
Awarded by NNPC & Chevron in recognition of academic excellence.
Commendation for Academic Performance
Issued by Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie for maintaining a CGPA above 4.50 across multiple academic sessions.
Dr. Akintoye Akindele Scholarship Award
Awarded by Caleb University Lagos for outstanding academic performance in first year.
These recognitions reflect a consistent commitment to excellence, innovation, and impact — values that underpin Innovation Fair Lagos.