Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- THE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reinforced its commitment to developing indigenous engineering talent, awarding N50 million to Team Mavericks of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, winners of the maiden Nigerian Engineering Olympiad.
The winning team clinched the top prize with “Sarafa Community Security Alert,” a community-based rapid emergency notification system that enables households to instantly alert neighbours and emergency responders during security incidents through low-cost communication devices.
In addition to the cash prize, the university’s Faculty of Engineering will receive a Centre of Excellence Building to be constructed by the NCDMB.
The competition, organised by ENACTUS Nigeria as technical partner and sponsored by the NCDMB, with Renaissance Africa Energy Company and First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (First E&P) as funding partners, showcased practical engineering solutions developed by students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The University of Ibadan’s Team Aurora finished second with its Aurora Birth Health Tech Suite, an innovation designed to reduce neonatal deaths caused by birth asphyxia in low-resource healthcare facilities. The team received N30 million and engineering equipment valued at N75 million.
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Team Fortizo of the University of Jos came third with FarmAnchor, a solar-powered artificial intelligence-enabled device that helps smallholder farmers detect crop pests, diseases and soil deficiencies. The team received N20 million and engineering equipment worth N50 million.
The fourth prize went to Team Flameless of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, whose project converts flare gas into affordable electricity for nearby communities. The team received N10 million.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Omomehin Ajimijaye, described the Olympiad as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future workforce.
He said the initiative demonstrates NCDMB’s commitment to developing human capital, promoting entrepreneurship and supporting innovations capable of driving national development.
“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 not an afterthought; it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Ajimijaye disclosed that the Board is currently assessing entries for the NCDMB Technology Innovation Challenge and has also launched the Young Researchers Programme, with over 500 undergraduate students already enrolled.
He said the initiatives are aimed at producing researchers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders capable of deepening Nigerian content and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in science, engineering and technology.
Country Director of ENACTUS Nigeria, Michael Ajayi, said preparations for the competition began more than two years ago.
According to him, the Olympiad attracted 375 applications from 984 students representing 80 universities, polytechnics and research institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
He said the entries were evaluated by 202 judges and assessors, involving 177 professionals, over 852 man-hours of assessment and six regional competitions.
Ajayi explained that the top 30 teams each received N3 million development grants—totalling N90 million—to build working prototypes before advancing through regional contests to the national finals.
He added that finalists also participated in a two-week business development boot camp designed to transform their engineering ideas into commercially viable ventures.
Representing First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company, General Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects, Engr. John Alani, said the Olympiad addresses the gap between engineering education and industry needs.
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Citing a 2023 industry survey showing that only five per cent of engineering graduates are industry-ready upon graduation, Alani described the initiative as a practical intervention for building a skilled workforce.
Also speaking, Vice President, Relationships and Sustainable Development at Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Igo Weli, said Nigeria’s biggest challenge is not a shortage of talent but inadequate support systems for innovation.
He pledged to engage other sponsors on increasing the N3 million prototype development grants awarded to participating teams.
Representing the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), immediate past President Engr. Margaret Oguntala described the Olympiad as one of Nigeria’s most significant platforms for engineering innovation and entrepreneurship.
She said the competition demonstrates the country’s abundant engineering talent and its potential to develop practical solutions to national challenges.
Among the other finalists were 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, whose innovations addressed challenges in healthcare, agriculture, energy efficiency, accessibility, waste recycling and pipeline security.
The event attracted senior NCDMB officials, representatives of government agencies, academia, industry and professional bodies.
