Four students from the Federal Government College, Kaduna, have represented Nigeria at the 2025 First LEGO League Global Robotics Challenge held in California, United States of America. The students, identified as Jovial Banki, Sinkalu Elizabeth, Obadaki Hiqmat, and Abubakar Aminu, travelled to the United States last week to participate in the international event, which brought together top-performing young innovators from across the globe.
The team, accompanied by their coach, Mr. Mohammed Magaji, departed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, amidst high expectations and national goodwill. While some members of the school’s robotics team remained in Nigeria due to ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), the four selected participants expressed their commitment to representing the country with dignity and excellence.
Speaking before departure, one of the participants, Sinkalu Elizabeth, noted that the team bore the collective aspirations of their school and country. “It was not easy combining academic work with robotics training,” she said. “However, we are determined to make our country proud on the global stage.”
Mr. Magaji, who has overseen the team’s development from its formative stages, highlighted the rigorous preparation that led to their qualification for the international competition. “We started from the basics—training the robot, conducting trials, and participating in regional and national qualifiers,” he explained. “This journey has required vision, discipline, and hard work. We are confident in our readiness to compete.”
The Principal of the Federal Government College, Kaduna, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, commended the students for their dedication and described their participation as a testament to the potential of Nigerian youth in science, technology, and innovation. He emphasised that the event served as a platform to demonstrate Nigeria’s capacity for technological excellence and aligned with the Federal Government’s broader educational and digital economy objectives.
“This is not merely a competition—it is a message to the world that Nigeria has what it takes to lead in innovation and problem-solving,” he said. “What these students have achieved is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s vision for ICT development, academic excellence, and global competitiveness.”
Mr. Adeyanju further disclosed that the initial winners of the national robotics competition were unable to attend due to visa complications, prompting the selection of the Federal Government College, Kaduna team. He described the development as providential and reaffirmed his confidence in the abilities of the students. “Despite the challenges, we pressed on. We believe that this is a moment of grace and purpose,” he stated.
The international tournament, which commenced on Saturday, 31 May 2025, concluded on Monday, 2 June 2025. Although the Nigerian team did not win top honours, they were awarded medals for participation.
Reflecting on the event, Mr. Adeyanju described the experience as invaluable. “It was an eye-opener. Our students gained global exposure, and we are now more convinced of the need to invest in robotics education,” he said.
The participation of the Federal Government College, Kaduna, in the 2025 First LEGO League Global Robotics Challenge marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest to nurture talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and further positions the country as a stakeholder in the global innovation ecosystem.
