The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has praised the impressive performance of its students at the World Robot Olympiad WRO 2025 International Final held at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore, from November 26 to 28, 2025. The event took place in the birthplace of the WRO Initiative and gathered some of the brightest young minds in global robotics.
The Lagos State 17-man team, led by the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, represented Nigeria in several competition categories. The delegation included officials and coaching staff who worked with the students to showcase their skills in robotics and STEM education on an international stage.
The 2025 edition of the competition, themed The Future of Robots, recorded the highest participation in WRO history. According to organisers, the event brought together 3,300 young innovators from 112 countries and featured 600 competing teams. WRO aims to give young people a platform to explore how robotics and intelligent machines can shape the future of cities, agriculture, sustainability, healthcare, accessibility, and even space exploration.
The three-day programme included an opening ceremony, practice sessions, competition rounds, project judging, an international friendship night, and the closing award ceremony. Nigeria also received recognition as one of the highest users of WRO Learning Platforms for robotics training.
Among the standout projects was the SMART GUARD BOT developed by Okesuna Junior Secondary School, Lagos Island, which competed in the Future Innovation Junior Category and emerged 2nd in Africa. The team created an AI-powered robot designed for electrical fault detection in Lagos Island and other areas. The students behind the project are Taiwo Oluwasemilore Elizabeth, aged 13, and Adegboye Esther Idunnu, aged 15, with their teacher and coach, Mrs Ogundipe Dorcas Oluwafemi.
Government Technical College, Ikotun, secured 3rd place in Africa in the Future Innovation Senior Category. The school presented the Spaar and Lego-Based Assistant Robot Future Innovation, a solar-powered AI agricultural robot designed for precision farming. Team members include Izahben Goodluck Chukwuka, 15, and Olawoye Solomon Moyinoluwa, 15, guided by their coach, Mr Olasupo Kolawole Olalekan. Their dual-robot innovation aligns with SDGs 2, 7, 9, and 13, supporting sustainable agriculture and climate-smart practices.
New Era Senior High School, Surulere, came first in Africa in the senior Robo Mission category. The team is made up of Adigun Mariam Ideraoluwa, 15, Saliu Ameerat Odunola, 15, and their coach, Mr Akingbade Olalekan Joseph. Officials noted that the group’s performance showed strong understanding of engineering concepts, teamwork, and mission execution.
In the junior Robo Mission category, New Era Girls Junior Secondary School, Surulere, finished 2nd in Africa. The Robo Era Team includes Ishaq Habeebat Tejumola, 12, and Adigun Khadijat Oluwademilade, 13, coached by Mr Ogundeyi Adewale Oluwabusayo. The team demonstrated solid technical skills and effective teamwork.
The Ministry stated that these achievements highlight Lagos State’s commitment to strengthening STEM education and supporting robotics development. It added that the teams’ innovations addressed real challenges such as electrical safety, agriculture, and sustainability, showing Nigeria’s growing capacity in global robotics education and the impact of continued investment in STEM.
WRO remains a global robotics competition designed to promote STEM learning and encourage young innovators to create solutions for real-world problems.
