AMERICA | A 12-year-old Nigerian-American girl named Eniola Sokunbi has captured national attention in the United States after inventing an innovative air filter designed to reduce the spread of airborne diseases in schools.
Her brilliant idea not only impressed scientists but also earned an astounding $11.5 million investment from the Connecticut State Bond Commission to bring her invention to classrooms across the state.
Eniola's Story and How She Did It
Eniola, a fifth-grader at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy in Middletown, Connecticut, developed the idea as part of a school science project.
The project focused on creating solutions to improve public health and safety during future pandemics. This topic deeply resonated with her after witnessing the impact of COVID-19 on schools and communities.
Driven by curiosity and compassion, Eniola set out to design a low-cost, high-efficiency air filter that could be easily assembled and used in classrooms.
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Her final model, which she proudly built herself, is a simple yet powerful combination of a box fan, four furnace filters, duct tape, and cardboard, all assembled for just $60 per unit.
Despite its simplicity, the air filter delivers exceptional results, offering a budget-friendly alternative to expensive commercial air purifiers.
“The air goes through all the sides, and it comes out of the top. So it filters in and out,” Eniola explained while demonstrating her prototype.
To ensure its effectiveness, scientists at the University of Connecticut (UConn) partnered with her to test the device.
The results were astonishing—the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) verified that the invention eliminates over 99% of airborne viruses, confirming its potential to make classrooms safer and healthier environments for children.
Her success inspired the UConn SAFE-CT (Supplemental Air Filtration for Education) program, which aims to install these air filters in every public school classroom across Connecticut.
The $11.5 million state investment will fund the large-scale production and distribution of the devices, turning Eniola’s school project into a statewide innovation that could protect thousands of students and teachers.
But Eniola’s dreams reach far beyond Connecticut. She hopes to see her filters adopted nationwide to ensure that schools everywhere are better prepared for future health crises.
“A lot of people don’t realize that the only thing standing between them and getting sick is science,” she said, highlighting her belief in science as a tool for social change and public good.
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