Nigerian-American Teen Helps Inspire $11.5m School Air-Filter Programme in Connecticut
Eniola Shokunbi, a Nigerian-American student, helped draw attention to a low-cost air filter that can improve classroom air quality. The Corsi-Rosenthal box filter is made with a box fan, furnace filters, cardboard and tape, at an estimated cost of about $60. Her interest began in fifth grade at her Connecticut school, where she and her classmates built the filters after learning about indoor air pollution. Researchers later tested the design and reported that it removed more than 99 per cent of airborne viruses within an hour under test conditions. In October 2024, Connecticut approved $11.5 million for a statewide programme led by the University of Connecticut to build and install the filters in public-school classrooms. The funding was not awarded personally to Eniola, but her advocacy and classroom project helped inspire the wider initiative. She continues to encourage students to use science to solve problems in their communities and hopes to take the clean-air project to more schools.
Use The App To Win ₦1m
Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.