At just 12 years old, Eniola Shokunbi, a Nigerian-American student from Middletown, Connecticut, has made a remarkable impact on public health and education. While in fifth grade at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy, she was tasked with devising a solution to enhance school safety during future pandemics.
Motivated by the challenges posed by COVID-19, Eniola focused on improving air quality in classrooms, leading her to design an innovative, cost-effective air filtration system. Eniola’s air filter is ingeniously simple yet highly effective.
Constructed from readily available materials—a box fan, four furnace filters, duct tape, and cardboard—the device costs approximately $60 per unit. Despite its simplicity, the filter has been proven to eliminate over 99% of airborne viruses, including COVID-19, as confirmed by rigorous testing conducted by scientists at the University of Connecticut and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Recognizing the potential of Eniola’s invention, the Connecticut State Bond Commission unanimously approved $11.5 million in funding to implement her air filtration systems in schools across the state. This initiative is part of the University of Connecticut’s Supplemental Air Filtration for Education (SAFE-CT) Program, aiming to enhance classroom safety and air quality statewide.
Eniola’s groundbreaking work has garnered significant recognition. In March 2025, she received the Young Achiever Award at the 10th edition of the Forbes Women Africa Awards, held in Pretoria, South Africa. The event celebrated women making substantial contributions across various fields, with Eniola honored alongside notable figures such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Tiwa Savage.
Beyond her technical achievements, Eniola is a passionate advocate for science and public health. She emphasizes the importance of investing in scientific solutions to safeguard children’s health, stating, “A lot of people don’t realize that the only thing standing between them and getting sick is science” .
Eniola’s vision extends beyond Connecticut, as she aspires to see her air filters implemented in classrooms nationwide, ensuring safer learning environments for all students.
