Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition 2026

The DCP University Engineering Challenge invites university engineering students to develop practical, evidence-based solutions to real operational problems faced in cement manufacturing. Working in teams, students choose one of four challenge tracks and present an engineering and business case for a workable solution. Read the full challenge guidelines.

What this challenge is designed to do

• →Bridge the gap between academic engineering and real industrial operations
• →Develop problem-solving, data, and business-case communication skills
• →Surface fresh ideas for cement manufacturing efficiency, reliability and sustainability
• →Build links between DCP and emerging engineering talent

• Table of Content
• About Dangote
• Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship

Total Prize Pool: N1.5M

• 1st Place: N700K&Certificate
• 2nd Place: N500K&Certificate
• 3rd Place: N300K&Certificate

Requirements for Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship Qualification

• Teams of 2–4 currently enrolled university engineering students
• Teams must be from one school
• Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged
• Select one of four challenge tracks
• Submit only original work
• No prior cement-industry experience required

Interview date, Process and Venue for Dangote Cement Undergraduate Research Competition Undergraduate Scholarship

• Registration Opens: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
• Submission Deadline: Thursday, 9 July 2026,11:59 PM WAT
• Shortlist Decision: Sunday, 12 July 2026
• Final Pitch & Results:Tuesday, 14 July 2026, UNILAG

Check also:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars' Program at ALCHE 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Dangote on docs.google.com to apply

Four Challenge Tracks

Each team selects ONE track. All four are weighted equally — choose the one that best matches your team's strengths.

1. Alternative Fuel Sourcing and Pricing Optimization

Design a sourcing model for feasible alternative-fuel streams within Nigeria that delivers reliable, safe, and cost-competitive fuel to DCP cement plants.

Recommended disciplines: Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and others

2.Predictive Maintenance and Reliability Early-Warning System

Design a practical early-warning model that predicts or flags high-risk equipment before major failures occur across crushers, mills, kilns, and packing equipment.

Recommended disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, and others

3. Cement Production Conversion Gap

Diagnose why clinker strength does not always translate into cement output, and design a conversion-loss bridge separating rate, runtime, feed, and planning constraints.

Recommended disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and others

4.Digital KPI Automation and Data Quality

Design a digital KPI reporting and validation concept that improves data quality, exception visibility, and management decision-making across DCP plants.

Recommended disciplines: Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, and others

For more Information, visit Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) Academic & Research Board webpage