Caleb University Students Clinch Hackathon Victory with AI Mango Ripeness App

A group of computer science students from Caleb University has emerged as winners of the Bells University of Technology Hackathon, thanks to their creation of Valor, an AI powered application that detects mango ripeness using advanced image processing and machine learning.

Designed to address a common agricultural challenge, Valor helps farmers, vendors, and consumers determine when mangoes are ripe or spoiled, a problem that often leads to significant food waste and financial losses. The app, described as “the Smart, Bold, Brainy, Savvy, Mango Master,” uses deep learning and computer vision to assess fruit quality with high accuracy.

The winning team consisted of final year Software and Computer Vision Engineer Harmony Abayomi, 400 level Data and AI Engineer Nwachukwu Chibuzor, and 400 level Data Analyst Efod Freda.

“Detecting ripeness and spoilage in mangoes remains a significant challenge,” the students said. “Overripe fruits lead to wastage and loss of value, while underripe ones fail to meet the expectations of consumers. Traditional methods like visual inspection are subjective and often unreliable.”

Their innovation earned praise from Caleb University’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Adewale, who commended the students during a special reception on campus.

“Caleb University has become a colossal hub for innovation and academic excellence,” he said. “The success of Valor is a testament to our commitment to nurturing innovation, academic excellence, and real world problem solving.”

Adewale noted that the university promotes a learning environment where interdisciplinary collaboration and hands on experiences prepare students for modern technological challenges.

In a joint statement, Head of the Computer Science Department Dr. Adeniyi Akanni and Team Coordinator Mr. Ajala described Valor as “a sophisticated web and mobile solution that leverages cutting edge AI and machine learning to analyse images and detect mango ripeness.”

They emphasized the app’s significance as a bridge between agriculture and technology, showcasing how student driven innovations from Caleb University are contributing to global efforts to reduce food waste and improve quality standards.