By Staff Writer
The University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH) has once again demonstrated its growing reputation for academic excellence and technological innovation after emerging as the overall winner of the Engineering Innovation Competition at the National University Hackathon 2026.
The prestigious competition, organised by the Young Engineering Professionals Forum (YEPF) as part of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (SLIE) Biennial Conference, brought together some of the country’s brightest young minds from universities and technical institutions. Participants were tasked with developing practical solutions to pressing engineering and societal challenges confronting communities across Sierra Leone.
After a highly competitive contest, UNIMTECH secured first place with an outstanding project titled “Smart Water Monitoring, Purification and Intelligent Distribution System.” The innovation is designed to enhance access to safe and clean water through a combination of real-time monitoring technologies, automated purification mechanisms, and intelligent distribution systems aimed at ensuring efficiency and sustainability.
According to the judging panel, the project stood out because of its impressive technical design, originality, feasibility, and strong potential for practical implementation. The solution was recognized as a timely response to one of the country’s most pressing challenges access to clean and reliable water supplies thereby earning UNIMTECH the highest honours in the national competition.
The victory represents another significant milestone for the University of Management and Technology, reinforcing its commitment to producing graduates equipped with practical skills and innovative thinking capable of addressing national development priorities. University authorities have described the achievement as a reflection of the hard work, creativity, and dedication exhibited by both students and faculty members.
Management further noted that the latest success complements the institution’s recent international recognition by the AD Scientific Index, which ranked UNIMTECH second among all higher learning institutions in Sierra Leone and first among private universities in the country. The ranking underscored the university’s steady rise as a centre of excellence in teaching, research, and technological advancement.
Education stakeholders have commended the institution for promoting innovation-driven learning and nurturing young professionals capable of contributing meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s development agenda. They emphasized that initiatives such as the National University Hackathon provide an important platform for students to translate theoretical knowledge into practical solutions with real-world impact.
For UNIMTECH, the triumph is more than just a competition victory; it symbolizes the institution’s growing influence in engineering and applied sciences and its determination to remain at the forefront of innovation and technology education.
As the university continues to invest in research, innovation, and student-led initiatives, it is expected to further distinguish itself as a leading institution producing transformative solutions aimed at addressing national and global challenges, while preparing a new generation of professionals capable of driving sustainable development and technological progress in Sierra Leone.