By Crystal Ugoeze
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P), has launched the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), an innovative competition designed to inspire engineering students to develop practical solutions to societal challenges.
The initiative is led by Enactus Nigeria, with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) as a key partner.
Speaking at the launch, the Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, Michael Ajayi, said the Olympiad aims to motivate final-year and postgraduate engineering students to envision a self-reliant Nigeria driven by knowledge, innovation, and collaboration. “The Olympiad embodies our belief that innovation must be nurtured where it begins – in the minds of young engineers,” he said. He added that NEO bridges the gap between academic creativity and industry needs by transforming ideas into impact and knowledge into enterprise.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that the theme, “Inspiring Engineering Solutions,” aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy. Represented by the Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Ogbe lamented the persistent skills gap in Nigeria’s engineering sector, stressing that only a small number of graduates are industry-ready. He warned that this challenge fuels reliance on expatriates, deepens brain drain, and reduces the availability of competent local engineers.
He explained that the Olympiad complements NCDMB’s human capacity development programmes, which have trained young Nigerians in petroleum engineering, digital technology, robotics, and other specialised fields. “Our goal is to institutionalise an annual national platform that identifies, nurtures, and supports exceptional engineering talent while linking participants to mentorship and commercialisation opportunities,” he said.
The Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, represented by Ms. Ebiho Agun, described Nigerian youth as one of the nation’s greatest assets in a world driven by innovation and problem-solving. She noted that the Olympiad will help young Nigerians expand their imagination, deepen technical skills, and showcase excellence nationally and globally. Urging the students to seize the opportunity for growth and discovery, she reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening youth creativity, skills development, and mentorship.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Integrated Gas at First E&P, Engr. Yetunde Taiwo, said the company’s involvement aligns with its values of nurturing talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She emphasised that while First E&P has long supported secondary-school education, the Olympiad enables direct engagement with university engineering students and exposes them to real-world challenges. Taiwo expressed concern over increasing brain drain and stressed that programmes like NEO can build sustainable career paths, retain local talent, and reassure young engineers of viable opportunities in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by Engr. Amino Hamisu, praised the Olympiad as a landmark step toward strengthening engineering excellence and advancing national technological growth.
In her keynote address, the President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Ogunsola, described NEO as a “watershed moment” in bridging the gap between academia and industry. She said the Olympiad serves as a national innovation incubator that transforms final-year engineering projects into commercially viable products through structured mentorship, prototype development, and intellectual property support. NSE, she assured, will provide expert guidance to ensure students’ innovations meet global standards.