By Adelowo Adebumiti
About 1,000 schoolchildren drawn from primary and secondary schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are to compete for slots to represent Nigeria at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) scheduled for Singapore in November.
The Arc-Lights Foundation, organisers of the competition in the country, has commenced registration for this year’s edition of the prestigious robotics competition.
The event, scheduled for July 1 in Nigeria, is expected to host about 1,000 schoolchildren, offering young innovators a platform to develop problem-solving, engineering, and programming skills while competing to represent Nigeria at the final in Singapore.
The WRO is a global robotics competition for Computer Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (C-STEAM) education. With a presence in over 95 countries, WRO’s mission is to help young people develop creativity and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.
Since 2011, Arc-Lights Foundation has facilitated and led Nigerian delegations, including participants, coaches, parents, and the national organising team, to various WRO International events in Russia, Qatar, India, Costa Rica, Thailand, Panama, Malaysia, UAE, Denmark, Hungary, Indonesia, and Turkey.
The competition is structured into four categories, each tailored for different age groups: Robomission, Robosports, future innovators, and future engineers. These categories enable participants across primary, secondary and universities to design, build, and programme robots to solve real-world challenges.
According to the organisers, one of the highlights of this year’s edition is the Future Engineers category, open to senior secondary and undergraduates aged between 14 and 22.
Participants will take on the challenge of designing and programming self-driving cars using open-source hardware, equipping them with critical skills for the future of robotics and automation.
Arc-Lights Foundation announced a fully funded scholarship for six students in this category to encourage participation and reward excellence. The top three teams, comprising two participants each, will receive financial support for their education, reinforcing the foundation’s commitment to empowering the next generation of Nigerian engineers.
In addition, Camden Education Trust has offered an all-expense-paid trip to the overall winner of the Future Innovators category. This ensures that the best young minds in Nigeria gain global exposure and networking opportunities at the competition’s final, enhancing their career prospects and innovation potential.
Speaking on the impact of WRO Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Abisola Obasanya, emphasised the importance of early exposure to robotics and STEM education.
Obasanya said: “This competition is a stepping stone for young innovators to develop technical skills, gain global recognition, and access life-changing opportunities. We encourage schools, teams, and individuals to register and be part of this journey.”
According to the organisers, winners from the WRO national competition will be able to represent Nigeria on the global stage at the WRO International Final in November, where they will compete against the brightest young innovators worldwide.
