Eniola Shokunbi is a 12-year-old Nigerian-American already making a name for herself in public health innovation.
She invented a low-cost air filter that removes over 99% of airborne viruses in classrooms, helping create safer learning environments for students
What began as a simple classroom idea has now grown into a statewide initiative in Connecticut, with $11.5 million approved to install her filters in schools. 
Her invention was tested by scientists and certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
How Did It All Start?
Interestingly, Eniola’s journey into innovation didn’t begin with a childhood love for science. It started with curiosity and a desire to understand how decisions made at the highest levels can impact everyday people.
It was that curiosity that changed everything. When a classmate brought in an article about a new type of air purifier being used in the White House during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eniola became curious. COVID had shown the world how easily airborne diseases spread, and she began researching how air quality affects health, especially in classrooms.
She noticed something simple: many of her classmates missed school because of allergies, flu, and respiratory issues due to poor air quality during the pandemic. Instead of just noticing the problem, she decided to solve it.
From DIY Experiment to Statewide Impact
Inspired by the Corsi-Rosenthal box, a DIY air purifier made from simple materials like cardboard and HVAC filters, she reached out to experts for help. She wrote to the University of Connecticut’s Indoor Air Quality Initiative asking for guidance.
Not only did they respond, but they also sent scientists to help her and her classmates build their own version.
They even designed it like their school mascot, which is an owl, and named it “Owl Force One”.
After testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the results were clear that the filter removed 99% of airborne viruses. Soon after, the Connecticut State Bond Commission unanimously approved $11.5 million to install the filters in classrooms across the state.
When speaking about her proudest moment in life, she told My Hero,
‘My proudest achievement so far has been securing the grant to get the CR DIY airfilters into classrooms across Connecticut. Now, we have the resources to get these air filters into more classrooms and schools. It’s important because in just 60 minutes, the filter can take out 99.4% of the viruses that are in the air, and, you know, students are in school for around 7 to 8 hours! Imagine how much cleaner the air would be having the filter there! Not only will students be able to focus better, but the risk for respiratory and health problems will be greatly reduced.”
At just 12 years old she has already achieved what many adults only dream of. But there’s more to Eniola than just air filters and grants.
Here are five interesting things to know about the young star:
1. She Wants to Become the First Female African-American President of the United States
Before she became known for air filters and public health innovation, Eniola had a dream of becoming the first African-American woman President of the United States.
Her interest in the White House is actually what led her to learn about the air purifiers being used there during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was her interest in the White House and its affairs that sparked the idea that would eventually turn her into a young inventor with worldwide impact.
2. She Is a 2025 Forbes Woman Africa Young Achiever Award Recipient
In 2025, she was named a recipient of the Forbes Woman Africa Young Achiever Award, an honour given to young Africans making meaningful contributions in their fields. The award highlights not just her innovation in improving classroom air quality but also her growing influence as a young leader.
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3. Her Idea Led to $11.5 Million in Statewide Funding
What makes Eniola’s achievement even more remarkable is the scale of it. Most young inventors receive grants in the thousands and sometimes tens of thousands to develop ideas or prototypes.
In her case, the State of Connecticut approved $11.5 million to install her air filters in schools across the state. Making her one of the first young persons to ever receive such an amount for a classroom project.
4. She Is A STEM Advocate
For Eniola, this project isn’t just about putting air filters in classrooms. She actually wants students to help build them too where possible. According to her, if kids can be part of the process, they won’t just learn about science from a textbook, as they will get to experience it firsthand.
It’s clear that she doesn’t just care about cleaner air; she cares about showing other young people that they are capable of creating real solutions in STEM.
5. She Loves Her Roots
Even though she was born and raised in the United States, Eniola hasn’t lost sight of where she comes from. She has shared that she hopes to expand her air filter initiative beyond America, including to Nigeria.
“I want to share this with the world, including Nigeria, where my parents are from,” she said during a virtual call with Forbes Africa from her home in Middletown, Connecticut, USA.
In 2025, she wrote to Nigerian authorities requesting an invitation and security support to discuss how do-it-yourself (DIY) box fan filters, could benefit Nigerian schools.
With dreams of becoming the first African-American woman president of the United States, Eniola is already practising leadership.
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