NSE, Partners Launch Engineering Olympiad to Spur Innovation among Young Professionals

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), alongside some key partners, yesterday launched the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), a platform for innovation and reward for young engineering professionals.

The programme was unveiled in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Renaissance Africa Energy Company (RAEC), First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P), and Enactus Projects Ltd/Gte.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the President and Chairman-in-Council of the NSE, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, noted that the engineering profession remains the bedrock of human development, maintaining that nations that have advanced through the field have done so by being intentionally strategic.

She explained that the Olympiad was envisioned as a platform for similarly intentional engagement and a catalyst to reinvent engineering innovation in Nigeria.

Over the years, Oguntala stressed that Nigeria’s engineering students have proposed intelligent inventions as final-year projects, yet there has been little deliberate effort to translate those concepts into viable products and services.

Too often, she pointed out that brilliant ideas end up gathering dust on library shelves instead of powering small and medium-scale enterprises, a narrative she said the olympiad is designed to change.

Oguntala emphasised that this will be mostly done by providing a structured pathway to carry academic innovations beyond the university and nurturing young engineers into real-life solutions that can drive economic growth and social development.

“As the foremost engineering professional body, the NSE believes that ideation – the birth of new ideas – is critical for professional development and community impact. Every great invention in history began with a single idea.

“ All the transformations humanity has seen – from the steam engine, to towering skyscrapers, to electricity, the internet, and artificial intelligence – started as ideas acted upon. Ideas do shape the world.

“The power of ideas in transforming societies cannot be overemphasized; indeed, great nations have stood on the shoulders of men and women of ideas to advance growth and development. Nigeria is brimming with such creative minds in our universities today. In our quest to turn the corner of technological development as a nation, the NEO offers a dynamic platform for students to unleash their innovative capacity,” she added.

With the platform, Oguntala explained that all the requirements needed to transform a concept into a market-ready solution, including: Financial viability, prototype development and testing, iterative refinement, detailed design & engineering, product validation and intellectual property protection will be taken care of.

NEO, she said, will serve as a launchpad for translating academic knowledge into viable homegrown engineering products and solutions.

“The Olympiad will progress through regional contests, mentorship phases, prototype development bootcamps, and a national grand finale by April 2026. By then, we expect participating teams to have refined their projects to world-class standards. The best ideas will earn not only recognition but also seed funding and technical guidance to turn them into real ventures. This is not just another competition – it is a national innovation incubator,” Oguntala said.

Listing recent moves to reinvent engineering innovation in the country, the NSE President stated that a prime example is its recent collaboration with MIDAS IT of India to provide advanced engineering software to 15 Nigerian universities, a donation valued at over $17.4 million.

She called on stakeholders – from government agencies to academia, and from industry leaders to the media – to pay close attention to the initiative, describing the olympiad as a game-changer.

Also speaking, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who was represented at the event, stated that the programme stands as a testament to the belief that the Nigerian youth is one of Nigeria’s greatest national assets.

At a time when the global economy is driven by science, technology, innovation, and problem-solving, the platform, the minister said, provides young minds with the opportunity to stretch their imagination, develop their technical abilities, and demonstrate excellence on the national and international stage. “For us at the Ministry of Youth Development, this initiative aligns strongly with our drive to equip young Nigerians with the skills, exposure, and opportunities necessary to thrive in an evolving world.

“We are committed to supporting programmes that encourage STEM learning, nurture creativity, and prepare our youth to become future creators, builders, and global competitors, the minister said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, noted that Nigeria with a population exceeding 237 million people, has a demographic advantage that presents tremendous potential for talent development, innovation, and industrial leadership.

However, Ogbe, who was represented by the Director, Capacity Building at the NCDMB, Abayomi Bamidele, argued that despite its abundant human resources, the engineering segment currently faces a critical skills gap in Nigeria.

“There is a growing disconnect between the competencies possessed by many engineering graduates and the practical skills required by industry. This must be addressed in a deliberate and strategic manner in a collaborative approach between government and private sector,” he said.