By Peace Udugba
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to developing indigenous engineering capacity by rewarding outstanding innovation and investing in the next generation of Nigerian engineers.
At the grand finale of the maiden Nigerian Engineering Olympiad, held in Lagos, Team Mavericks from Modibbo Adama University, Yola, emerged overall winners with their innovation, “Sarafa Community Security Alert,” a community-based rapid alert system that connects households through low-cost devices to notify neighbours and emergency responders during security incidents.
The winning team received a ₦50 million cash prize, while the university’s Faculty of Engineering will benefit from the construction of a Centre of Excellence Building sponsored by the NCDMB.
The competition, organised in partnership with ENACTUS Nigeria, was sponsored by the NCDMB, with Renaissance Africa Energy Company and First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (First E&P) serving as funding partners.
The initiative showcased innovative engineering solutions developed by students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria to address national challenges through technology, entrepreneurship and locally driven solutions.
Team Aurora from the University of Ibadan finished as first runner-up with its “Aurora Birth Health Tech Suite,” designed to reduce neonatal deaths caused by birth asphyxia in low-resource healthcare facilities. The team received ₦30 million and engineering equipment worth ₦75 million.
Team Fortizo of the University of Jos placed third with “FarmAnchor,” a solar-powered, Artificial Intelligence-enabled device that helps smallholder farmers detect crop pests, diseases and soil deficiencies. The team won ₦20 million and engineering equipment worth ₦50 million.
Coming fourth was Team Flameless from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, whose innovation captures flare gas to generate affordable electricity for nearby communities. The team received ₦10 million.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Omomehin Ajimijaye, said the Olympiad was more than a competition, describing it as a celebration of innovation and the immense potential of Nigerian youths to solve real-world problems through science and engineering.
He reiterated the Board’s commitment to developing human capital, promoting entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to realise their full potential.
“Our mandate is to build human and institutional capacity that enables Nigerians to compete successfully, not only within the oil and gas industry but across the wider economy. Youth development is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Ajimijaye disclosed that the NCDMB has also launched the Young Researchers Programme, with over 500 undergraduate students already enrolled, while another panel of judges is evaluating entries for the NCDMB Technology Innovation Challenge at the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Country Director of ENACTUS Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ajayi, said the competition attracted 375 applications from 984 students representing 80 tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to him, the entries were evaluated by 202 judges and assessors, involving 177 professionals and over 852 man-hours of assessment before the best projects emerged.
He added that the top 30 teams each received ₦3 million development grants, amounting to ₦90 million, to build prototypes before advancing to regional contests and the national finals.
Ajayi commended the NCDMB, Renaissance Africa Energy Company and First E&P for supporting the initiative, stressing that collaboration among government, private sector organisations and development partners remains critical to driving national development.
Also speaking, General Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects at First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited, Engr. John Alani, said Nigeria’s challenge was not a shortage of talent but inadequate opportunities to develop young innovators.
Similarly, Vice President, Relationships and Sustainable Development at Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Mr. Igo Weli, described the Olympiad as a platform capable of transforming innovative ideas into commercially viable solutions and pledged to work with other sponsors to increase the ₦3 million innovation grant awarded to participating teams.
Representing the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the immediate past President, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, praised the NCDMB and its partners for establishing what she described as one of Nigeria’s most significant engineering innovation platforms.
Other top finalists included teams from the University of Port Harcourt, University of Benin, Imo State University, University of Lagos, University of Abuja, Nigerian Army University Biu, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Kano, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with innovations spanning smart security systems, healthcare technology, renewable energy, agriculture, waste recycling and artificial intelligence.
The event attracted senior officials of the NCDMB, representatives of government agencies, academia, industry stakeholders and professional bodies.
The Board said the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad reflects its commitment to building indigenous capacity by identifying, nurturing and rewarding exceptional engineering talent, while promoting technological innovation, entrepreneurship and Nigeria’s industrial development.
