News
FIRST LEGO League: 24 Unity Schools Qualify for National Robotics Championship
Twenty-four (24) teams drawn from the Federal Unity Colleges have qualified for the FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL) National Robotics Championship Competition 2021.
Students pitching their works during the Zonal Championship stage
The teams were selected after highly competitive Zonal Championships held in Lagos and Kano, respectively.
The qualified teams from the Northern Zone – Kano are: Federal Science & Technical College, Orozo, Abuja; Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, Abuja; Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, Abuja; Federal Government Girls’ College, Kabba, Kogi State; Federal Government College, Kano, Kano State; Federal Government Girls’ College, Tambuwal, Sokoto State; Federal Government College Daura, Katsina State; Federal Science and Technical College, Dayi, Katsina State; Federal Science and Technical College, Michika, Adamawa State; Federal Science and Technical College, Jalingo, Taraba State; Federal Government Girls College, Bauchi, Bauchi State and Federal Government Girls’ College Jalingo, Taraba State
Also qualified are twelve teams from the Southern Zone – Lagos are: Federal Science and Technical College, Usi-Ekiti, Ekiti State; Federal Government Girls College, Akure, Ondo State; Queens College Lagos; Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Ogun State; Federal Science and Technical College, Awka, Anambra State and Federal Government Girls College, Lejja, Enugu State.
Others are Federal Government Girls College, Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State; Federal Science and Technical College, Awka Ohanso, Anambra State; Federal Government College, Ikom, Cross River State; Federal Science and Technical College, Tungbo, Bayelsa State; Federal Science and Technical College, Ahoda, Rivers State and the Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong, Akwa-Ibom State.
The seventh edition of the Championship which is organised annually by Coderina Education and Technology Foundation was carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and the Principals of 104 Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria with supports from SAP, FIRST; National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Ford and DOW.
Coderina is an independent non-profit organisation ed-tech that works to promote ICT development, youth innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.
Commenting on the project, the Director, Technology & Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria), Mrs. Elizabeth Adedigba, said that the objective is to expose the children to 21st Century technology and skills.
In her words, “The Ministry is aware of the fact that the world does not wait for anybody and artificial intelligence is gaining ground across sectors. The Federal Unity Colleges; being model schools, we have to start with the children to acquire the skills and boost their creative insights, innovation and team work progression such they can build it in them right from this stage.
“We are equipping them for the challenges of the future and the workplace of the future; we can’t afford to leave our students untutored along this line because we want them to be globally competitive, entrepreneurs. We want jobs to look for them; the reverse shouldn’t be the case.
“This is the way to go and the Ministry is passionate about including the Hon. Minister, Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary; that is why we are here to encourage the children.
She said that from the students’ performances, the future of Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering (STEM) is bright. “I am excited seeing what these children could conceive and develop with little incentives given to them. With this exposure they now look at the environment, pinpoint problems and proffer solutions. The future of this country is bright and these children will go places.
The Director also applauded Coderina “for bringing the laudable program to Nigeria. When they brought it to the Ministry we keyed in because we know it is the way to go. I thank them and they should continue the good work including the coaches that have been trained. All hands must be on deck; we are not stopping here.
“We shall continue until we achieve the ultimate goal. The students should not just concentrate on now rather they should be mindful of what they can carve out in the future for themselves leveraging this exposure”.
Nodding in agreement with Adedigba, the Chairperson of the Principals of 104 Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria, Dr. (Mrs) Tokumbo Yakubu-Oyinloye, said, “The future of science and technology in Nigeria is very bright especially with what I have seen here today. You can see talents and potential in display.
“Our children are living up to the tasks. They have learnt robotics, coding, programming, team work, corporation, innovation and inventions. If we continue to groom them they will turn out even better”.
She expressed confidence that the skills developed at this stage will assist the students to fit-in the future workplace; “not just in Nigeria, but globally”. They can design projects that will make things work faster and better across industries and homes. Some people designed the washing machine, cars, factory robots; these young talents will design better machines. They could be the ones Nigeria is waiting for to visit the space and design gadgets for our homes.
Dr. Yakubu-Oyinloye who doubles as the Director of Education & Principal, Queens College Lagos, thanked the Minister of Education Hon. Adamu Adamu; the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, the directors and the team for putting the competition together.
“They have done a great job and with the support of the Principals of Federal Unity Colleges and coaches we have been able to get our students to this level. The Minister has demonstrated a passion to drive the educational sector forward.
While assessing the program, Chairman, Board of Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, Femi Niyi, Coderina, described the participation over time as phenomenal.
Niyi said that educators, parents and teachers have all realized that technology has a significant role to play in today’s society and gaining fluency in the use of it has become inevitable.
Speaking further, he said, “We are in an unusual season which means we had to navigate the Zonal Championship in a very strategic way to ensure that students and their mentors are well protected from COVID- Strict observance of COVID protocols and adherence to guidelines limited the fun somewhat. We hope to continue to run the national championship in a way that ensures no one is put in harm’s way.
“The earlier stage of the season was difficult for teams due to school closures. However, with school resumption, it was easier to put the teams in one bubble where they work collectively while adhering to strict COVID prevention guidelines.
“Carrying out physical sites visits and interviews and feedback sessions with experts was a major problem reported by most teams. However, some teams devised creative ways of running virtual feedback sessions”, he said.
“The support we received from the Federal Ministry of Education is unparalleled. Seeing the initiative to all Federal Unity Colleges would not have been possible without the great commitment of the leadership of the Ministry and the project managers. We are really excited to have such decent collaboration.
“The coaches”, the Chairman, said, “are helping to mold their teams for the future of work, while the students are building, designing and engineering their digital future”.
He added that Coderina’s readiness to partner with schools and parents to future-proof their students or wards should contact Coderina via: Planning@coderina.org.
“To all child-friendly organisations out there, there’s no better way to stretch your philanthropy budget than sponsoring a school, team or child and help prepare them for the future”, he said.
Anambra State has once again demonstrated its leadership in digital transformation, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top three states in the 2025 e-Governance Report published by the Panorama CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
According to the report — a collaborative effort between Nigerian Panorama and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) — Anambra ranks alongside Lagos and Enugu as the leading states in adopting and implementing e-governance practices that foster accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
In his remarks, Professor Anthony Kila, Director of CIAPS, emphasized the importance of e-governance in shaping how governments interact with citizens. “The centrality of e-governance allows us to assess the performance of state governments in the country. How the government treats the digital world says a lot about them,” he said.
The report evaluated states based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including website security, up-to-date content, public engagement, availability of online services, policy updates, and user accessibility. Anambra’s performance reflects the state’s deliberate investment in digital infrastructure and its commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for inclusive governance.
Reacting to the recognition, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the report as a welcome validation of the efforts being made under the leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to reposition Anambra as a liveable and prosperous smart mega-city.
“This is not just about being tech-savvy,” Agbata said. “It’s about using digital tools to create real impact — making the government more accessible, responsive, and transparent. Anambra is building a digital future that works for everyone.”
The CGPI Report recommended that all states intensify efforts to train public servants, maintain digital platforms effectively, and build user-friendly systems that keep citizens informed and empowered. For Anambra, this recognition serves both as a milestone and a motivation to scale new heights.
As the journey continues, Anambra remains focused on setting the pace for e-governance in Nigeria in line with the Governor’s mantra of Everything Technology & Technology Everywhere.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to reject the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion, warning that the move would significantly deepen Nigeria’s debt crisis.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the advocacy group warned that the proposed borrowing would raise Nigeria’s total debt stock to an estimated ₦183 trillion—an amount it described as “clearly not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
“The National Assembly must immediately refuse to approve the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion,” the group said. “The growing national debt is not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
SERAP expressed concern over the heavy burden of debt servicing, which it said is already consuming a substantial portion of government revenue, leaving little room for critical public investment.
Nigeria’s total public debt is projected to surpass ₦180 trillion following the president’s latest loan request. The borrowing plan includes a proposal for over $21.5 billion in external loans, which equates to ₦33.39 trillion at the official exchange rate of ₦1,590 per dollar. The administration is also seeking approval for a domestic bond issuance worth ₦757.9 billion to settle outstanding pension liabilities.
President Tinubu said the 2025–2026 borrowing plan targets key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, water supply, security, and employment generation. He noted that the plan is also intended to cushion the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The total loan request comprises $21.5 billion, €2.19 billion, and 15 billion Japanese Yen, alongside a €65 million grant. Tinubu assured lawmakers that the funds would be directed toward development projects across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with emphasis on rail networks, healthcare infrastructure, and poverty alleviation programs.
On pension-related borrowing, the president explained that the proposed bond issuance is aimed at clearing backlogs under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The measure, he added, has already received approval from the Federal Executive Council and is expected to improve retirees’ welfare, restore trust in the pension system, and inject liquidity into the economy.
Nigeria’s public debt has surged in recent years, rising by 48.6% in 2024 to ₦144.66 trillion—up from ₦97.34 trillion in 2023. The Federal Government accounts for 95% of that total.
Firm Reports a 48% Increase in Malicious Packages Threatening Software Supply Chains
Senate Passes Harmonised Report on Tax Reform Bills
FG to Provide High-fibre Internet in 12 Universities by Year End
The Silent Killer of Great Companies: A Guide To Why Your Processes Will Break (and How to Fix Them)
EFCC Witness Admits Writing Off Arik Air’s $2.3M Debt Amid N76Bn Fraud Trial
E-Financial3 days agoEFCC Recovers over N20Bn Stolen by Hackers from 6 Banks in Nigeria
Telecom3 days agoEngr. Ikechukwu Nnamani Receives Two Prestigious @ABoICT Awards
Telecom3 days agoFG to Deploy 80 Percent of 7000 Telecom Towers to North
E-Business2 days agoNigeria Among Hotspots as Kaspersky Warns of Rising Ransomware Threat in Africa
E-Financial2 days agoFidelity Bank Plc Wins 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support
E-Financial3 days agoPonzi Scheme Operators Risk N10m Penalty, Others- IST Chair
News3 days agoEFCC Recovers Funds, Arrests Suspects in N1.3 Trillion CBEX Crypto Fraud
E-Financial3 days agoUBA Launches *919# Advance Top-Up Feature for Instant Access to Customers