Nigeria Unveils Engineering Olympiad to Drive Youth Innovation and Technical Excellence

By Iyojo Ameh

Nigeria has officially launched the maiden edition of the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO) in Abuja, a national programme designed to identify, nurture, and commercialise engineering talent across the country’s tertiary institutions.

NEO official unveiling

The event, held Thursday brought together government leaders, industry executives, engineering professionals, and academic stakeholders all united by a common mission: to transform Nigeria’s engineering capabilities and bridge the widening skills gap among young graduates.

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) represented by Engr. Abayomi Bamidele Director Capacity Building, said the Olympiad aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy and supports the national drive for indigenous innovation and industrial competitiveness.

NEO Stakeholders

“Nigeria has a population exceeding 237 million people, nearly half of West Africa. Yet only about 5 percent of our engineering graduates are industry ready at graduation,” he said.
“This Olympiad provides a structured pathway to identify and support young innovators who can design solutions for our national challenges.”

According to him, industry surveys show that over 79 percent of engineering graduates lack practical, hands-on competencies aligned with global standards a challenge NCDMB says must be addressed urgently.

The Executive Secretary also noted that the skills deficit has contributed to a shortage of competent local engineers, heavy reliance on expatriates, and increasing brain drain.

The NCDMB highlighted its ongoing capacity building programmes in petroleum engineering, robotics, digital technology, and advanced technical disciplines efforts that will be reinforced by the Olympiad’s talent pipeline.

Enactus Nigeria’s Country Director, Engr. Michael Ajayi, emphasized that national-scale impact can only come from strong collaboration across government, private sector, and civil society.

“This partnership proves that when we combine policy support, private-sector systems, and nonprofit expertise, we can deliver transformational impact not just for individuals, but for entire industries.”

Ajayi outlined the Olympiad’s objectives, which include encouraging students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life problem-solving and enabling them to build engineering-driven businesses that generate jobs and wealth.

While responding to questions on AI, Funding, and eligibility Ajayi assured that the Olympiad has secured technical, financial, and business mentorship support from multiple agencies, including NSE and NASENI.

He also stated that the competition is strictly for engineering students from accredited universities and polytechnics, across all engineering fields. Other science disciplines may be included in future editions.

President of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala FNSE, FNSChE described NEO as a “game changer” that will bridge the gap between academia and industry.

NSE leaders lamented that many innovative ideas proposed by engineering students often end up “gathering dust on library shelves” due to lack of technical and financial support.

The Olympiad is expected to reverse this trend by providing: Prototype development assistance, Business development mentorship, Access to engineering simulation tools, Guidance on intellectual property protection and create Pathways to commercialization.

The NSE announced its recent partnership with Midas IT of India, which donated over $17.4 million worth of engineering software to 15 Nigerian universities tools that will also be available to Olympiad participants.

In her goodwill message, Engr. Dr. Adebisi Osim, FNSE, President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, called for greater female participation in engineering, urging girls across Nigeria to pursue engineering careers.
“Engineering is not a man’s world. It is our world too. We want young women to step forward, register, and let their ideas shape Nigeria’s future.”

Speakers highlighted that the Olympiad will create opportunities for young innovators from rural and underserved communities, enabling them to compete on equal footing with peers nationwide.

With unemployment among young Nigerians exceeding 30 percent, organizers say the Olympiad will channel youth creativity into productive innovation, reduce reliance on expatriate expertise, expand local content, and strengthen Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.

The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad will run a seven-month cycle, featuring regional contests, intensive mentorship, prototype development, and a national grand finale scheduled for April 2026.

The programme is powered by a consortium of major partners, including:

NCDMB (Lead Sponsor), FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P), Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Enactus Nigeria.

The Olympiad aims to produce engineering solutions that address pressing needs in infrastructure, manufacturing, energy transition, sustainability, and digital technology.

NEO’s ultimate goal is to produce a generation of engineers who are job creators, problem solvers, and globally competitive innovators.

As the lead sponsor put it: “From idea to impact, NEO empowers young engineers to design solutions that can change their communities and the world.”