Young innovators at the event
Nigeria's next generation of technology innovators took centre stage in Abuja as the Odyssey Educational Foundation hosted the Technovation Regional Pitch Event 2026, where young Nigerians showcased mobile application solutions aimed at addressing pressing societal challenges.
The two-day event, held at the headquarters of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), attracted over 270 participants, with 64 teams presenting innovative ideas focused on healthcare, housing, safety, education, and community development. The competition featured Beginners, Junior, and Senior divisions, highlighting the creativity, technical expertise, and problem-solving abilities of students and young innovators passionate about science, technology, engineering, and innovation.
At the end of the pitching and evaluation sessions, seven teams advanced to the semi-final stage of the competition. Team Daisy Health Impact emerged from the Beginners Division, while Tech Titans, Pantheons, and Rent Buddies qualified from the Junior category. In the Senior Division, Creative Sparks, Blazzer, and Lex Tech secured advancement.
Speaking during the event, the Technovation Chapter Ambassador and Executive Director of the Odyssey Educational Foundation, Stella Uzochukwu-Denis, urged participants to continue using technology as a tool for social transformation and national development. She said empowering young innovators with digital and entrepreneurial skills remained critical to building sustainable solutions for Africa's future.
Representatives of organisations including the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the National Association of Technology Educators (NATE), TechWomen, PanAfricare, and PICTT also addressed participants, encouraging them to pursue excellence and leadership in STEM-related fields.
The participating teams demonstrated their applications before a panel of judges, explaining the societal relevance of their innovations, research processes, and app functionality. Projects were evaluated based on creativity, research depth, presentation quality, user interface design, and overall functionality.
Organisers described the programme as successful, commending the enthusiasm, collaboration, and innovation displayed by participants from across the country. They added that despite minor technical and scheduling challenges, the event reinforced the growing momentum of youth-driven innovation and technology leadership in Nigeria.
