How Nile University Researchers Are Using AI and Biomass Waste to Reinvent Materials Design

At Nile University of Nigeria, faculty-led research is combining artificial intelligence and green engineering to create smarter, more sustainable materials — with real impact across industry and academia.

At Nile University of Nigeria, engineering research is answering one of today’s key industrial challenges: how to make materials that are stronger, more sustainable, and cost-effective — all while reducing environmental impact.

Led by Dr. Adekunle Adeleke, a team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering collaborated with Bowen University and Nile’s Waste to Wealth Research Group to explore how biomass ash — a byproduct of agricultural waste — can be used to strengthen aluminium alloys.

The team applied three machine learning models to predict how different combinations of aluminium and biomass ash would perform. Their most accurate model, LSBoost, revealed that this green additive can enhance strength and durability — all without expensive, time-consuming lab tests.

The research was presented at AfricaTek 2025 in Tunis, where it was ranked in the Top 5 of 113 papers. It has also been featured in Q1 and Q2 international engineering journals, reinforcing its global academic value.

By replacing synthetic additives with renewable materials — and using AI to streamline design — the project contributes to cleaner manufacturing, smarter materials development, and a more circular economy.

This is the future of engineering in Africa: data-driven, locally relevant, and globally respected.