GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL SHINES AT FCT JETS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETITION
By: Prudence Okonna
Students from Gwagwalada Area Council have emerged overall best in the 15th edition of the FCT annual Junior Engineers Technicians, Scientists (JETS) and Entrepreneurship Competition 2025.
The students received their trophy during the grand finale of the competition on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the Junior Secondary School, Hajj Camp Gwagwalada.
The Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), Dr Alhassan Sule, while congratulating the students for their outstanding performances, urged them to continue exploring science, technology, and entrepreneurship, noting that the future belongs to job creators rather than job seekers
The representative of the Acting Executive Chairman, Director of Special Needs and Nomadic Education, FCT-UBEB, Malam Bashir Abubakar, commended the organisers for sustaining the annual JETS and Entrepreneurship Competition, describing it as a vital platform for grooming young innovators.
He thanked the Director of Science, Technology and Innovation, Florence Wenegieme, and her team for their dedication, acknowledging the long hours invested to ensure the programme’s success.
The Acting Executive Chairman appreciated the Area Council education officers, parents, and teachers, stressing that their support makes the competition more impactful.
He also assured that children with special needs and learners in the nomadic education system would be fully integrated into future editions.
Adding that UBEB is collaborating with the National Commission for Nomadic Education to improve participation and facilities, while continuing active monitoring of nomadic schools to address infrastructure gaps.
In her welcome address, the Director of Science, Technology and Innovation, Florence Wenegieme, reaffirmed that the JETS and Entrepreneurship Competition, now in its 15th edition, has become a key platform for popularising science and nurturing innovation among basic education students.
She explained that the annual competition is aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on skill acquisition, science, technology, and innovation, noting that previous participants have won scholarships within and outside the country.
Wenegieme said the competition boosts students’ confidence, helps them overcome fear of science and mathematics, and inspires them to consider careers in engineering, medicine and other STEM fields.
She revealed that the FCT emerged first at the last international JETS competition and expressed optimism that this year’s finalists will once again represent Nigeria.
The Director praised teachers and science coordinators for their commitment, noting that their improved morale and hard work have strengthened the quality of the competition.
One of the overall best winners, Ugochukwu Soludo of Junior Secondary School, Phase 3, Gwagwalada, said he felt honoured and excited to emerge top.
He advised other students to study consistently and read beyond their age level, assuring them that dedication and self-belief remain key to excelling in science-based competitions.
Abuja Digest reports that the grand finale featured exhibitions of science, technical and entrepreneurial projects by students, alongside the concluding rounds of the basic science and mathematics competition.
Gwagwalada Area Council emerged overall best with 32 points, followed by AMAC with 24 points, while Bwari took third place with 20 points.
Awards were presented to first, second and third-place winners across both private and public Lower Basic (Primary) and Senior Basic (Secondary) categories.
The event was attended by education stakeholders, including representatives of the Secondary Education Board, ANCOPSS, the FCT Education Resource Centre, science coordinators, and officials from the six Area Councils.
