FCT, Brunel University Launch Innovation Challenge to Empower Young Entrepreneurs

In a landmark initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable innovation among Nigerian youth, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat has partnered with Brunel University London to launch the Abuja Innovation Challenge.

The initiative, unveiled during a teacher training session on entrepreneurship education, is designed to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among secondary school students in the FCT. Speaking at the event, the Director/Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Dr Sani Mohammed Ladan, said the programme is a vital step toward building a safer, fairer, greener, and more prosperous Abuja.

Dr Caroline Decken-Lange, Partner& Facilitator from Brunel University London UK

“This challenge is more than a competition. It is a sustainable investment in the lives of our students and a lifetime opportunity that equips them with skills to thrive beyond their secondary education,” Dr Ladan stated.

He noted that the challenge aligns with Nigeria’s need to address complex developmental issues such as environmental degradation and inadequate infrastructure. With the theme “Building a Better Abuja for Everyone”, the initiative tasks students with developing viable, technology-driven solutions to real-life community problems, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and sustainability.

Twenty-five schools across the FCT are participating in this pioneering effort, with each school nominating five students and a teacher-mentor to create projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Focus areas include renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, urban infrastructure, and tourism.

Director of the FCT Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Kolawole Olobashola, expressed optimism about the programme’s long-term impact. “With this initiative, the FCT Education Secretariat is ahead of the curve. A new hands-on learning approach has been introduced, and we are committed to ensuring its continuity,” he said.

Coordinator of the programme, Mr Musa Nuhu Zuru, highlighted the challenge as a key milestone in promoting student-led innovation and underlined the importance of international collaborations in transforming Nigeria’s educational and entrepreneurial landscape.

The Abuja Innovation Challenge, which commenced in February 2025, has included six virtual workshops and mentorship opportunities. It will culminate in a Demo Day on 5 May and an Awards Ceremony on 12 May 2025, where the most outstanding projects will be recognised and given further development opportunities.

Dr Ashkan Pak, partner & facilitator from Brunel University London,Uk

The FCT Education Secretariat and its partners say they are confident the challenge will ignite a wave of innovation and inspire a new generation of problem-solvers poised to build a better Nigeria.