Nigerian Engineering Olympiad Launched to Strengthen Global Engineering Competitiveness

By: Michael Mike

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has expressed commitment to bolstering engineering education in the country through linking academia with industry sector to bring about meaningful growth in Nigeria.

Nigeria while announcing a bold step toward strengthening its global engineering competitiveness with the launch of the maiden Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), an initiative the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), expressed willingness to transform university inventions into market-ready technologies capable of advancing national development.

Speaking during inauguration of the maiden Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), a national programme designed to identify, nurture, and commercialise engineering talent across tertiary institutions, the President of NSE, Margaret Oguntala, disclosed that the Olympiad aims at tackling pressing needs in infrastructure, manufacturing, energy transition, sustainability, and digital technology, as ultimate goal to produce a generation of job creating engineers, problem solvers, and globally competitive innovators.

The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad was organised by Enactus Nigeria in partnership with NSE, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Renaissance Africa Energy Company (RAEC), and the First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P).

Oguntala said, “As the foremost Engineering professional body, NSE believes that the addition of new ideas is critical for professional development and community impact.

“Every great invention in history began with an idea. All the transformations humanity has seen from the steam engine, to towering skyscrapers, electricity, internet, and artificial intelligence started as ideas acted upon.

“Ideas do shape the world. The power of ideas in transforming societies cannot be overemphasised; 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. In our quest to turn technological development as a nation, NEO offers dynamic platform for students to unleash innovative capacity, as collective effort to create environment where ideation can truly thrive.”

Oguntala, also Chairman-in-Council of the NSE, stressed the need for stakeholders from across government agencies, academia, industry leaders and media to prioritise NEO.

According to her, the Olympiad creates a structured pipeline—regional contests, prototype bootcamps, iterative design, product validation, intellectual property support and a national finale in April 2026—designed to take ideas from concept to commercialization.

She described the Olympiad as “a national innovation incubator” that will provide mentorship, seed funding and technical guidance to the top teams.

Oguntala also highlighted NSE’s recent $17.4 million partnership with MIDAS IT of India to supply advanced engineering design software to 15 universities, a step she said would “strengthen academic excellence and prepare young engineers for global competitiveness.”

She reiterated that the Olympiad reflects Nigeria’s determination to elevate its technological capacity and compete on a global scale.

She said: “Today, we ignite a spark that will light the way for Nigeria’s engineering future. The innovations born from this Olympiad could become the solutions that drive our industries, improve our infrastructure and uplift our communities.”

In a remark, Executive-Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Omatsola Ogbe commended Olympiad for aligning with the Federal Government’s policy drive for indigenous innovation and industrial competitiveness.

Ogbe, represented by Director Capacity Building of NCDMB, Abayomi Bamidele explained ongoing capacity building programmes in petroleum engineering, robotics, digital technology, and advanced technical disciplines efforts would help to reinforce the Olympiad’s talent pipeline.

He disclosed that industry surveys showed not less than 79 per cent of engineering graduates lacked practical and hands-on competencies aligned with global standards a challenge NCDMB says must be addressed urgently.

According to him, engineering skills deficit contributed to shortage of competent local engineers, heavy reliance on expatriates, and increasing brain drain

“Nigeria has a population exceeding 237 million people, nearly half of West Africa, yet only about 5 per cent of our engineering graduates are industry ready at graduation.

“This Olympiad provides a structured pathway to identify and support young innovators who can design solutions for our national challenges,” he said.

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

Ajayi said: “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.

“Olympiad’s objectives 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.”

He disclosed that the Olympiad was designed to run a seven-month cycle and will feature regional contests, intensive mentorship, prototype development, and a national grand finale scheduled to hold in April 2026.

First E&P’s General Manager for Integrated Gas Development, Yetunde Taiwo, said the company’s involvement stems from a commitment to innovation and talent development.

She said: “Our core values are around fostering talent, innovation and entrepreneurship. Some of the perennial challenges we see in the industry can actually be solved by these very bright young minds.”

She added that engaging students early with real industry problems could help reduce brain drain by creating clear pathways into the workforce.

Representing Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Nigerian content manager Olanrewaju Olawunyi said their support reflects a longstanding commitment to developing human capital.

“We are made in Nigeria, we’re built for Africa. We invest in people. People are our biggest resource.”

He noted that Renaissance funds STEM education from primary to tertiary levels and runs fully funded scholarships—including sending candidates from the Niger Delta overseas for postgraduate studies.

“This is not just a flash. All our programs are annual and fully funded, and we also pay students during internships.”

On behalf of the Minister of Youth Development, Technical Adviser Ebiho Agun said the Olympiad aligns fully with government priorities and the nation’s long-term workforce needs.

“It provides young minds with the opportunity to stretch their imagination, deepen technical abilities, and demonstrate excellence on a national and international stage,” he said.

He described the initiative as “a catalyst for mentorship, discovery and long-term career development,” urging participants to seize the opportunity: “You are the heartbeat of Nigeria’s future. remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence.”

Nigerian Engineering Olympiad Launched to Strengthen Global Engineering Competitiveness