In a remarkable display of teamwork and innovation, Team Aeromorph, led by two young Nigerians, Clinton Ikechukwu and Oghosa Abu, has advanced to the finals of the Airbus Fly Your Ideas 2025 Global Competition. The team, which also includes Muhammad Junaid Ali from Pakistan, will represent the Technical University of Chemnitz (TUC), Germany, at the finals scheduled for June 20, 2025, at the Paris Airshow.
Out of 366 entries from 49 countries and 229 universities, only three teams earned a spot in the finals. Team Aeromorph joins Team SkyOptima (Singapore) and Team Atlas Trio USM (Malaysia) in the final round, where one group will be awarded the coveted Grand Prize: a fast-track interview for the Airbus Global Graduate Programme (AGGP) 2026.
Team Aeromorph’s AI-powered emergency landing assistant, EVA_LAND, is designed to reduce pilot error and improve passenger safety. At the heart of their proposal is a commitment to using artificial intelligence not just for automation, but for reassurance for making human decisions stronger, not obsolete.
Oghosa Abu, a Master’s candidate in Advanced & Computational Mathematics, highlighted the interdisciplinary effort behind their innovation:
“We combined diverse strengths: engineering, mathematics, systems thinking to create something detailed but practical. We saw real gaps in aviation safety, and we believed AI could help close them, especially during emergency scenarios.”
Clinton Ikechukwu, a Master’s student in Advanced Manufacturing and a recipient of the European Union meta 4.0 program, added: “For us, AI is like the first light at dawn: full of promise. It is a thing full of promise. What made our idea persuasive wasn’t just the technology, but how we presented it: thoughtfully, clearly, and with a focus on real human impact.”
Interestingly, Clinton is also a celebrated literary voice who finely blends literature and Engineering. He thrives on his ability to combine both persuasively.
“Storytelling and engineering are both about structure, empathy, and solving problems. You’re trying to build something that lasts, whether it’s a sentence or a safety system. And you want to sell this convincingly.”
Team Aeromorph is more than a technical unit. They’re a team bound by vision, respect, and shared values. And while Clinton brings a creative lens, Oghosa’s precision and clarity have been pivotal in shaping their concept into a finalist-worthy solution. Together with Muhammad, they’ve created a powerful cross-continental collaboration that’s already inspiring others.
Clinton reflected on the upcoming finals with enthusiasm: “Paris feels like a homecoming. As a team, we’re ready to speak boldly and represent not just our university, but the unshakable dreams we carry as Nigerians. We come from a culture of resilience. We are pursuers of dreams and walkers on water.”
Team Aeromorph’s advancement is not only a victory for Nigeria and Pakistan but also a shining example of what global education, diversity, and collaboration can yield when young minds are empowered to lead.
Their journey stands as a reminder that innovation thrives at the intersection of brilliance and belief and that tomorrow’s world is being built today by students who dare to dream beyond borders.
By: Dela Ahiawor
