Three Schools Emerge Finalists in Glo Innov8 STEM Challenge for Girls

Three Schools Emerge Finalists in Glo Innov8 STEM Challenge for Girls

The race for the top prize in Globacom’s Glo Innov8 National STEM Competition for Girls has reached its final stage, with three schools emerging as finalists for the grand finale scheduled to hold at the Mike Adenuga Centre (Alliance Française), Ikoyi, Lagos.

The finalists — Ephraim High School, Isolo Campus, Lagos; Regina Pacis International School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Peakfield Academy, Jos, Plateau State — were selected after a rigorous process that saw twenty schools shortlisted from over 200 entries submitted nationwide, and ten advancing to the semi-final stage.

Organised by the Glo Foundation, Globacom’s corporate social responsibility arm, the Glo Innov8 competition was launched in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child. It aims to inspire young girls to compete, innovate, and win, while enhancing their confidence and knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

The initiative attracted entries from secondary schools across several states including Plateau, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Oyo, Anambra, FCT, Delta, Kaduna, and Adamawa.

The winning school at the grand finale will take home a ₦2 million cash prize, while each of the two student representatives will receive a laptop computer, and their teacher or mentor will get ₦200,000. The second and third-placed schools will also be rewarded with consolation prizes for both students and mentors.

Speaking on the quality of entries, one of the judges, Tosin Olabode, lauded the participants for their creativity and depth of research. “I was particularly impressed by the prototype presentations from some schools. They demonstrated that they had done their homework,” she said.

Another judge, Amina Gabriel, noted the diversity of innovative ideas presented. “The schools tackled issues in agriculture, security, waste management, and firefighting. The top 10 schools showcased outstanding prototypes, from apps to robots, making the judging process truly competitive,” she said.

For Sharon Ibejih, the third judge, the competition has revealed a promising generation of future innovators. “This was an excellent exercise and a means to encourage more students in STEM to develop problem-solving and innovative thinking skills,” she remarked.

The Glo Innov8 STEM Challenge continues to reinforce Globacom’s commitment to empowering young girls and promoting excellence in science and technology education across Nigeria.