A 12-year-old Nigerian, Joshua Obadin, has emerged as one of the ten winners of the prestigious IDEASforEARS Children’s Invention Contest, earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Austria.
According to a statement from a hearing implant company, MED-EL, Obadin, a Lagos-based innovator, received recognition 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 stated. “He can’t even hear crickets chirping, which makes me worried. I wanted to create something to help keep him safe. Knowing my idea could help others too makes me happy.”
The contest hailed the 12-year-old’s invention, noting “This solution stood out for its innovation, practical impact, and potential to make a meaningful difference for those living with hearing challenges.”
MED-EL revealed its 2025 edition of the IDEASforEARS contest challenged children aged six to 12 to develop innovations that improve the lives of people with hearing loss.
The organisers revealed the contest attracted 355 participants from 24 countries, with young innovators showcasing solutions ranging from wearable devices to solar-powered hearing aids.
Head Judge of IDEASforEARS, Geoffrey Ball, praised the ingenuity of this year’s contestants, describing them as problem-solvers who see possibilities rather than limits.
“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. Every submission tells a story of a child who saw a problem and dared to find a solution,” he said.
Obadin’s emergence will allow him to travel alongside a parent to Innsbruck, Austria in June. MED-EL added that the trip to Austria will afford Obadin to meet other young inventors from around the world and participate in workshops and innovation tours.
Other contest winners include children from China, Brazil, the United States, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Poland.
IDEASforEARS revealed that since its launch in 2017, it has received over 1,700 submissions from more than 45 countries, highlighting young minds’ creativity in tackling hearing-related challenges.
MED-EL, the contest organiser, is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, pioneering technologies to improve the lives of people with hearing impairments in over 137 countries.
Arinze Nwafor @ThePUNCH
