Nigerian chemist wins prize for research equipment access
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Edu Inam, a chemistry professor at the University of Uyo in Nigeria, received the 2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize from the Schlumberger Foundation.
The foundation selected Inam as one of nine winners from 156 applicants representing 61 countries. Inam earned the prize for her work creating a database to help researchers across Nigeria locate and access scientific equipment. Inam noticed researchers often struggled to find available and functioning equipment within the country’s universities.
She developed LabEquipment.ng, an online platform that lists equipment, its location, and contact information for access. Launched in 2021, the platform had connected 22 institutions, listed over 200 pieces of equipment, and facilitated more than 3,000 interactions by the end of 2025. The Schlumberger Foundation’s prize money will allow Inam to expand the platform with mobile access and onboard additional institutions.
She hopes to create a national research network where scientists can easily find the resources they need, regardless of their university affiliation. Capella Festa, President of the Schlumberger Foundation, explained the prize recognizes fellows who apply their expertise to solve local problems.
