How 12-year-old Shokunbi won $11.5 million for her DIY air filter
12-year-old Nigerian-American student, Eniola Shokunbi, from Middletown, Connecticut, in the United States, gained recognition after developing a low-cost, high-efficiency air purifier in 2022 as a fifth-grader at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy. It was a class project aimed at addressing future pandemic challenges, and making classrooms safer.
Crafted from a box fan, four furnace filters, cardboard, and duct tape, the purifier might look unassuming, but it’s anything but ordinary. Shokunbi’s device costs $60 to assemble and has shown powerful results, it removes over 99% of airborne viruses, including COVID-19. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) independently tested the filter in North Carolina, confirming its effectiveness.
“My goal is to see these filters in every classroom across America,” said Shokunbi. “I want kids to go to school knowing they’re safe, healthy, and ready to learn.”
Her innovation caught the attention of state officials and university scientists. Developed in collaboration with the University of Connecticut and environmental researchers, the air purifier is now the centrepiece of a broader health initiative.
In October 2024, the Connecticut State Bond Commission unanimously approved $11.5 million to support the construction and installation of her low-cost DIY air filters in public schools across Connecticut, as part of the University of Connecticut’s (UConn) SAFE-CT: Supplemental Air Filtration for Education Program.
“She’s phenomenal,” said State Senator Matt Lesser. “Eniola commands every room she’s in—she’s a true rock star.” But for Shokunbi, it’s about more than just recognition. It’s about impact.
“People don’t always realize that science is sometimes the only thing standing between them and illness,” she said. “If we’re not investing in that, we’re not investing in kids’ futures.”
The filters, assembled by students under Shokunbi’s guidance, offer a timely and cost-effective solution to the growing need for clean air in classrooms, especially in the wake of a pandemic that exposed widespread vulnerabilities in school infrastructure. “The air goes through all the sides, and it comes out of the top, fully filtered,” she explained. “It’s simple, but it works.”
Her leadership was spotlighted at the State Bond Commission meeting, where the funding was approved. The move not only supported a technical innovation but also endorsed student-driven science as a public health solution.
As part of UConn’s initiative, Shokunbi’s invention could soon be protecting students far beyond Connecticut. Local administrators have praised the effort, and her classmates have taken pride in being part of something with statewide impact. “It’s about showing what students are capable of when we give them the chance,” a teacher remarked.
Shokunbi was honoured for her innovative low-cost air filter project with an award at the 2025 Forbes Women Africa Awards. She received the Young Achiever Award during the 10th edition of the awards, which took place on March 5, 2025, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, as part of the Forbes Women Africa Leading Women Summit.
The summit, themed “To The Power of 10: The Rule-Breakers In Africa’s Next Chapter,” recognized women making significant impacts across various fields. She received the award alongside iconic Nigerian awardees like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Lifetime Achievement Award), Tiwa Savage (Media Icon Award), Nissi Ogulu (Youth Icon Award), and Hephzibah Akinwale (Next Generation Award).
“I really love explaining the project to people and seeing their faces light up,” Shokunbi added. “Seeing them realize that something so simple can change so many lives—it makes me believe even more in what science can do.”
Despite her age, Shokunbi’s vision for the future is expansive and grounded in public service. Her story is already inspiring a new generation of learners, and reminding policymakers that bold ideas can come from the youngest voices.
Written by Kweku Sampson, edited by Abeeb Lekan Sodiq.
This article is published by either a staff writer, an intern, or an editor of TheAfricanDream.net, based on editorial discretion.
