Five children aged between seven and 18 will participate in the Teesas Summer School Startup at no cost, for winning the Future Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Challenge sponsored by Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie.

The initiative is centred on the broader issue of early exposure to entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and leadership skills for Nigerian children.

Already, educators and parents have raised concerns about the limited opportunities for practical, innovation-focused learning outside the regular school curriculum.

The competition requires interested children to record a 60-second video responding to the question:

According to the organisers, the objective is to get children to think critically about challenges in their immediate environment and propose ideas that address them, rather than submit fully developed business plans.

“The goal is not to have a perfect business plan; instead, judges want to hear original ideas and understand how children think about solving real-world challenges,” Gladys Osime, the centre’s growth manager, stated.

Osime added that submissions can span education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, technology, transportation, and community development.

She noted that the challenge is part of ongoing efforts to democratise access to such learning platforms for children who may not otherwise be able to afford them.

The Teesas Summer School Spark 2.0 is an intensive programme that introduces children to leadership, entrepreneurial thinking and technology skills.

Organisers disclosed that the programme is intended to build participants’ confidence and communication skills, while exposing them to practical tools for identifying problems and developing solutions.

Speaking on the partnership, Indomie Brand Manager, Ibrahim Isah, said the sponsorship is aimed at encouraging creativity and innovation among children from an early age.

“We believe every great innovation begins with a simple idea and the courage to bring it to life. We are proud to support a platform that encourages young minds to think creatively, solve real-life problems, and develop the confidence to become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators,” Isah said.

Education stakeholders noted that the programme would address the gaps in the current system, where entrepreneurship and technology education are often introduced to students much later, despite the increasing demand for early digital and problem-solving competencies.