The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P), has officially launched the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO). The competition is designed to encourage engineering students across the country to develop innovative solutions that address societal challenges, while strengthening Nigeria’s technical capacity.

The initiative is championed by Enactus Nigeria and supported by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) as a key technical partner.

Speaking about the purpose of the Olympiad, Michael Ajayi, Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, explained that NEO aims to inspire final-year and postgraduate engineering students to envision and contribute to a self-reliant Nigeria powered by knowledge, innovation, and collaboration. 

“The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad embodies our belief that innovation must be nurtured where it begins, in the minds of young engineers. By connecting academic creativity with industry realities, NEO provides the bridge that transforms knowledge into impact and ideas into enterprise,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe emphasised that the Olympiad’s theme, “Inspiring Engineering Solutions,” aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy. Engr. Ogbe highlighted that, despite Nigeria’s vast population and youth potential, the engineering sector continues to face a critical skills gap. He noted that only a negligible percentage of graduates are considered industry-ready, a deficit that contributes to reliance on expatriates and accelerates brain drain.

Represented by the Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Engr. Ogbe added that the Olympiad complements NCDMB’s human capacity development initiatives, which have trained young Nigerians in petroleum engineering, digital technology, robotics, and other advanced fields. 

“Our goal is to institutionalise an annual national platform that identifies, nurtures, and supports exceptional engineering talent while connecting participants to industry mentorship and pathways for commercialisation. We are equally committed to strengthening entrepreneurial and leadership skills to enable young engineers to thrive in the workforce or launch technology-driven enterprises,” he stated.

The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, represented by Ms Ebiho Agun, described the creativity and ingenuity of Nigerian youth as one of the country’s greatest assets in a world increasingly driven by science, technology, and problem-solving. She stated that the Olympiad provides a critical platform for young Nigerians to expand their imagination, deepen their technical expertise, and showcase excellence both locally and internationally.

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Addressing the students as “the heartbeat of Nigeria’s future,” she encouraged participants to see the competition as an opportunity for learning, discovery, and career advancement. She further reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to programmes that nurture youth creativity, skills development, and mentorship.

The General Manager of Integrated Gas at First E&P, Engr. Yetunde Taiwo explained that the company’s participation reflects its core values of nurturing talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship. While First E&P has long supported secondary-level education, she noted that the Olympiad offers a unique opportunity to engage university-level engineering students and expose them to real-world industry challenges.

Expressing concern over the growing brain drain, Engr. Taiwo highlighted that many graduates emigrate due to limited opportunities to apply their skills locally. She emphasised that initiatives like NEO, supported by strong government-industry collaboration, can create sustainable career pathways, retain talent, and demonstrate that viable opportunities exist within Nigeria’s energy sector.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by Engr. Amino Hamisu described the Olympiad as a landmark initiative to strengthen engineering excellence and advance national technological development.

In her keynote address, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Ogunsola hailed the Olympiad as a “watershed moment” in bridging the academia-industry divide. 

She described NEO as a national innovation incubator aimed at transforming final-year engineering projects into commercially viable products through mentorship, prototype development, and intellectual property support. Engr. Ogunsola confirmed that NSE would provide technical guidance to ensure students’ innovations meet global standards.

How the Olympiad will operate

Applications opened on November 20, 2025, and will close on January 11, 2026.

The competition will proceed through four stages:

• Screening Level 1 – Intra-School Competition: Each institution will select one winning team. Selected teams will receive technical mentorship and access to development resources to refine their concepts into prototypes.

• Screening Level 2 – Regional Contests: Five schools per region will qualify, producing 30 teams for the mentorship and prototyping phase. Funding and technical support will be provided to develop Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).

• Screening Level 3 – Semi-Finals: Twelve teams, two from each region, will advance to an intensive mentorship and business development boot camp for prototype refinement.

• Screening Level 4 – National Grand Finale: The Olympiad will culminate in a national grand finale on 11 April 2026, where four winning teams will emerge.

Interested participants can apply through the official portal: www.neo.org.ng

Meiza Nigeria