STEMi Africa to Host STEM competition for Basic Schools Across Nigeria

STEMi Makers of Africa has announced the hosting of a national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competition for primary and secondary schools across Nigeria in Lagos, Enugu, Kano, and Port Harcourt.

The national competition, whose registration begins in the first week of August 2026 and commences in December 2026, invites young people aged 8 to 16 to test their STEM skills in tackling real-world challenges.

It aims to give young people the opportunity to see themselves as scientists and engineers of the future and encourage them to continue studying and pursuing STEM careers.

The organisers stated that over 1,000 students would be engaging in the competition to use their creativity to design environmental and energy efficient solution to one of three real-world challenges: powering my community, environmental stewardship and protecting our planet, and artificial intelligence for good.

For the competition, all challenges can be completed by groups of two to four students at a STEM club, in class, or as an independent project. Teachers will also have the opportunity to supervise and coach their students towards the competition.

The organisers revealed that, to enter the competition, teams will need to create a short film or presentation showcasing their project. Teachers need to submit the presentations before the deadline of November 2026 using the online form on the STEMi Makers of Africa website.

The competition will be hosted in Lagos, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt, and the participants will present their work to the judging panel and compete for prizes, including the STEMi experience day, cash prizes of up to N1 million to spend on science equipment or field trips and STEMi souvenirs.

The Founder and Executive Director of STEMi Makers of Africa, Dr. Amanda Obidike, urged every young person, regardless of their background, to benefit from the opportunities that a STEM education and career can provide through the competition.

Obidike said that the world is rapidly changing and developments in technology can transform societies, economies and industries, stressing that organisations that do not anticipate or adapt to new technologies struggle to survive.

“On the other hand, organisations with leading technologies are often the most competitive and successful. Encouraging the engineers and scientists of the future is crucial for the continued success of many of Nigeria’s key industries,” she said.

One of the facilitators of the competition, Mr. Somtoo Obidike, said that across many parts of Nigeria, young people still face real educational gaps in access to quality STEM learning and practical opportunities.

Obidike further said that these gaps can be narrowed when students are given the chance to apply what they learn in the classroom to challenges that matter in their own communities.

“The STEMi competition creates that space, inviting young people to develop practical, innovative solutions while building confidence in their ability to create and improve. In doing so, we hope to quietly nurture a spirit of innovation that will stay with them long after the competition ends,” he said.

The organisers said that the competition was developed based on insights from the ground-breaking ‘Enterprising Science’ research, which shows that the more science capital (science-related qualifications, interest, literacy and social contacts) a young person has, the more likely they are to pursue a STEM career.