NDI Robotics and STEM Fair 2026 | Inspiring Future Innovators
NDI Robotics and STEM Fair 2026: A Historic Beginning for Innovation in the Niger Delta
On Friday, 17th July 2026, history was made in Rivers State as Niger Delta Innovate (NDI) successfully hosted the maiden edition of the NDI Robotics and STEM Fair 2026 at Okrika Grammar School, Okrika.
With the theme:
"Innovation and Creativity: The Foundation of a Better Future"
the event brought together students, educators, government officials, technology leaders, security agencies, parents, and innovation enthusiasts for a groundbreaking celebration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and creativity.
Despite heavy rainfall throughout the day, over 300 attendees filled the venue, proving that the passion for innovation cannot be dampened.
More importantly, the event achieved something even bigger: it demonstrated that the Niger Delta is home to extraordinary young innovators ready to solve real-world problems.
A Milestone for STEM Education in the Niger Delta
The NDI Robotics and STEM Fair represents much more than a competition.
It is part of Niger Delta Innovate's mission to bridge the digital skills gap across the Niger Delta through practical technology education.
Through its:
NERDC-aligned Digital Technology Curriculum
Robotics and Technovation Clubs
Coding and Data Science Training
Loop Digital Learning Platform
NDI continues to empower young people with future-ready skills that prepare them for careers in the digital economy.
The Robotics and STEM Fair serves as the annual platform where months of learning, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving come to life.
Two Exciting Competitions. One Vision.
The maiden edition featured two major competitions that challenged students to think beyond the classroom.
Robotics Competition
Schools with active NDI Technovation Clubs competed by designing robots capable of solving real-life problems.
Students presented impressive innovations including:
Autonomous Line-Following Robot for warehouse logistics
Automatic Floor Sweeping Robot
Smart House Security System
Automatic Reading Lamp
Bluetooth-Controlled Robotic Car
Each project was evaluated by experienced judges based on:
Innovation
Creativity
Practical application
Technical design
Presentation
Teamwork
One of the most valuable lessons from the judging session came when students were reminded that engineering is never about "I" but about "We."
The judges emphasized that successful innovation depends on collaboration—a lesson every future engineer should carry throughout their careers.
Robotics Competition Winners
After an impressive showcase of engineering excellence, the winners emerged as:
🥇 1st Place: Okrika Grammar School Team 2 (71.7%)
🥈 2nd Place: Okrika National Secondary School (68%)
🥉 3rd Place: The Kings College (61.7%)
Other participating schools included:
CSS Okochiri
Okrika Grammar School Team 1
CSS Ogbogbo
STEM Quiz Competition Powered by Loop
The STEM Quiz was conducted entirely on Loop, NDI's proprietary digital learning and assessment platform.
Students answered real-time questions across:
Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics
Each question carried a strict 25-second timer, creating an exciting atmosphere of speed, precision, and critical thinking.
Participating schools included:
Okrika Grammar School
The Kings College
CSS Okochiri
CSS Ogbogbo
Okrika National Secondary School
Archdeacon Brown Educational Centre
GGSS Okumgba
STEM Quiz Winners
The competition produced outstanding performances.
🥇 1st Place: The Kings College (97.7%)
🥈 2nd Place: Okrika Grammar School (76.5%)
🥉 3rd Place: CSS Okochiri (71.2%)
Approximately 39 students competed across both competitions, showcasing the growing interest in robotics and STEM education across Rivers State.
Rewarding Excellence
To encourage innovation and reward hard work, cash prizes were presented to the top three schools in each competition.
🏆 First Place – ₦200,000
🏆 Second Place – ₦150,000
🏆 Third Place – ₦100,000
The winning team captains proudly received their prize cheques before an enthusiastic audience of educators, government representatives, technology leaders, and parents.
Student Innovation Beyond Competition
The event also featured inspiring technology demonstrations from junior secondary school students.
One of the standout exhibitions came from Godselect Ndop Christian and team from Okrika Grammar School.
Their project showcased an AI chatbot built entirely in Scratch.
The chatbot could:
simulate human conversations,
respond intelligently to user prompts,
and even change its virtual environment—including transporting users to the surface of the moon.
It was a remarkable demonstration of what young minds can achieve when given access to the right tools and mentorship.
Inspiring Speeches That Shaped the Day
The event featured thought-provoking speeches from distinguished leaders in education, technology, government, and industry.
Kelvin Sampson Fubara
Executive Director, Niger Delta Innovate
In his welcome address, he reminded students that innovation begins with curiosity.
He emphasized that the event was never just about robots—it was about unlocking possibilities for young people across the Niger Delta.
He also made a powerful promise:
"We're saying maiden deliberately. It means that there will be a second, and a third, and a fourth, and each time it's going to be way larger."
Rt. Rev'd Dr. Enoch Atuboyedia
Chairman of the NDI Board of Directors encouraged students to dream bigger.
He celebrated the establishment of robotics education at Okrika Grammar School and praised the efforts of Dr. Tamuno-omie Gogo in building the school's first robotics laboratory.
Dr. Levi Damingo
Delivering the keynote address, he inspired students with a memorable reminder:
"Every expert was once a beginner. Every inventor was once a curious child."
He encouraged every participant to embrace experimentation, collaboration, and resilience.
Mrs. Ibim Semenitari
Former Managing Director of NDDC and Executive Director of ABEC Group of Schools challenged everyone present to continue investing in children's dreams.
Her powerful statement became one of the defining messages of the event:
"If we don't encourage the future, then our tomorrow is done as well."
Honouring Champions of Education and Innovation
Beyond the competitions, the Robotics and STEM Fair was also an opportunity to recognize individuals whose contributions continue to advance education, innovation, and youth development in Nigeria.
Awards of Excellence were presented to:
Dr. Peters Nwagor – Honourable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State (represented by Dr. (Mrs.) Inisefiekabo Tam Job)
Hon. Linda Samiari-Stewart – Deputy Majority Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly (represented by Hon. Royal C. Ateke, PhD)
Mr. Lawal Hafiz – Coordinating Director, Zonal Offices, NBTE
Lt. Col. Sabo Baffa – Nigerian Army
Major Nwankwo Alban Onyekachi – Nigerian Army
Capt. Kayode Oladeji Owolabi – Nigerian Navy
Mr. Isaac Audu-Usman – Founder & President, Antigravity Group
CSP Sunusi Mala – Divisional Police Officer, Okrika Police Division
These distinguished guests stood alongside the students, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between education, government, industry, and security institutions in building Nigeria's future.
National Recognition: NDI Makes Headlines
The success of the maiden edition attracted national media attention, with coverage from three of Nigeria's leading newspapers:
The widespread media coverage highlights the growing national recognition of NDI's commitment to advancing STEM education and innovation in the Niger Delta, further amplifying the impact of the initiative and inspiring more stakeholders to support technology-driven education.
Looking Ahead: This Is Only the Beginning
The 2026 edition marked the beginning of what NDI envisions as an annual innovation showcase that will continue to grow in scale, reach, and impact.
Future editions aim to:
Welcome more schools across the Niger Delta.
Expand robotics and STEM competitions.
Introduce new innovation categories.
Foster stronger partnerships with government, academia, and industry.
Inspire thousands more students to become creators, innovators, and problem-solvers.
The maiden edition has laid a strong foundation for a future where young people across the Niger Delta are equipped with the skills and confidence to solve local and global challenges through technology.
Join the Movement
At Niger Delta Innovate, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to explore, create, and innovate.
Whether you're a student, parent, educator, school administrator, government agency, corporate partner, or technology enthusiast, there's a place for you in this growing movement.
Together, we can build a future where innovation begins in our classrooms and transforms our communities.
Interested in partnering with NDI or enrolling your school in our STEM and Robotics programmes? Contact us today and be part of the next generation of innovators.
