STEMITES-NAFESS INNOVATION CHALLENGE; GSTC GARKI PICKS TICKET TO REPRESENT NIGERIA IN USA
By: Ngozi Dike Nkemjika
A student from Government Science and Technical College-GSTC Garki has distinguished herself and made the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) proud by clinching 1st position at the just concluded Project Innovation Challenge, organized by Genius Illumina in Lagos.
The competition, STEMites-National Festival of School Science (NAFESS) Innovation Challenge 2025, brought together young innovators from across Nigeria to showcase groundbreaking projects in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to foster creativity, problem solving, and team building among secondary school students with over 100 entries of projects, out of which 17 projects made it to grand finale.
At the end of the assessment, two students from GSTC Garki, Abraham Angel PraiseGod, came 5th with their project ‘Converting Waste Plastics into Composite Floor and Wall Tiles’, while MaryClaret Somtochukwu Onyenwe took the 1st position with her project ‘Production of ‘Reusable Pads from Waste Banana Trunks’.
This outstanding performance will allow her to represent Nigeria at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2026 in the United States of America (USA).
Great Height Academy, Kado, another FCT school, also participated in the competition, represented by two students: Faida Ahmadu Bello and Ummulaiman Salihu Bala, who clinched the 4th position with their project, Glide X.
Receiving the champions at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation Headquarters, the Director, Mr. Kolawole Olobashola, appreciated the students for their impressive outing and performance, noting that they have brought honour to both their schools and FCT, and positioning it as a leader in STEM education and Innovation.
He also commended the teachers for their indefatigable efforts, urging them to keep up the good work.
