Cross River State has recorded success in digital education and innovation as the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Cross River, emerged second overall at the third National Girls in ICT Competition 2026, held in Abuja.

The national competition, organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, attracted over 3,700 participants from across Nigeria and featured innovative technology-driven projects developed by young female students.

At the end of the contest, the Special Education Centre, Bauchi, clinched the overall first position, while FGGC Cross River secured second place ahead of Resonance Science School, Abia State, which finished third.

Reacting to the feat, Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, described the achievement as a significant endorsement of the state’s growing investments in education, innovation and digital skills development.

He said the success of the students demonstrated the abundance of talent in Cross River and mentioned the state’s potential as a hub for technological innovation and academic excellence.

“This outstanding achievement by the brilliant students of Federal Government Girls’ College, Cross River, is a moment of immense pride for our state.

“Their success confirms what we have always known that Cross River is blessed with exceptionally gifted young minds capable of competing with the very best anywhere in the country,” he said.

According to him, securing a place among the top three in a competition involving thousands of participants nationwide showed the students’ discipline, creativity, hard work and quality mentorship.

Otu noted that the competition’s emphasis on digital innovation, problem-solving and emerging technologies aligned with his administration’s commitment to equipping young people with future-ready skills.

He emphasised that the future belonged to those who could create solutions, harness digital tools and transform ideas into impact.

He emphasised that the young girls had demonstrated that Cross River was producing the kind of innovators and leaders Nigeria needed for the future.

The governor also commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for her keynote address at the event, where she encouraged participants to remain “curious, confident and courageous” while leveraging technology to address societal challenges and improve communities.

Otu described the message as timely and inspirational, noting that innovation thrives on curiosity and bold thinking.

He further lauded the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for championing initiatives aimed at expanding digital opportunities across the country.

The governor agreed with Tijani’s assertion that talent existed in every part of Nigeria and that the country’s digital economy could not reach its full potential if women and girls are excluded.

He said: “The remarkable performance of these girls from Cross River is proof that brilliance knows no geographical boundaries.

“What young people need is opportunity, support and an enabling environment,”

Otu also welcomed key federal initiatives, including Project BRIDGE, the expansion of the Universal Service Provision Fund, the Three Million Technical Talent Programme and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, describing them as transformative programmes capable of creating opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths.

The governor also commended the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, for challenging young Nigerians to move beyond being consumers of technology and become creators and innovators.

The governor expressed support for the planned rollout of Code Club kits, including Raspberry Pi computers, robotics equipment and teacher-training resources, to schools nationwide, saying the initiative would help democratise access to technology and encourage interest in coding, robotics and digital innovation.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising education, innovation and youth empowerment as key drivers of sustainable development in Cross River State.

The third National Girls in ICT Competition featured projects addressing challenges in agriculture, healthcare, accessibility and education.

The six national finalists received cash prizes, high-performance laptops and mentorship opportunities designed to nurture the next generation of Nigerian technology innovators.