The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has joined forces with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P) to launch the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO).
Maritime Bits checks revealed that NEO is an engineering competition aimed at addressing at inspiring engineering students to develop innovative projects that will solve societal problems.
It is championed by Enactus Nigeria while the umbrella body for engineers in the country, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is its key partner.
A statement by NCDMB quoted the Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ajayi saying that NEO will inspire final-year and postgraduate engineering students to envision and build a self-reliant Nigeria driven by knowledge, innovation and collaboration.
His words: “The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad embodies our belief that innovation must be nurtured where it begins, in the minds of young engineers. “By connecting academic creativity with industry realities, NEO provides the bridge that transforms knowledge into impact, and ideas into enterprise.”
According to the statement which was obtained by Maritime Bits, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe said the programme’s theme, “Inspiring Engineering Solutions,” aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy.
Ogbe averred that despite Nigeria’s large population offering immense potential, the engineering sector continues to grapple with a critical skills gap just as he noted that a negligible percentage of engineering graduates are considered industry-ready upon graduation.
The NCDMB helmsman warned that this deficit has far-reaching implications, including a shortage of competent local engineers, over-reliance on expatriates, and an accelerating brain drain.
Ogbe who was NCDMB Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, explained that the Olympiad complements the agency’s human capacity development initiatives, which have trained young Nigerians in petroleum engineering, digital technology, robotics, and other advanced fields.
“Our goal is to institutionalise an annual national platform that identifies, nurtures, and supports exceptional engineering talent while connecting participants to industry mentorship and commercialisation pathways,” he added.
He added that the Board is equally committed to strengthening entrepreneurial and leadership skills to enable young engineers to thrive in the workforce or launch technology-driven enterprises.
The Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande who was represented by Ms. Ebiho Agun, described the creativity and ingenuity of Nigerian youth as one of the country’s greatest assets in a world increasingly driven by science, innovation, and problem-solving.
The Minister noted that the Olympiad provides a vital platform for young Nigerians to expand their imagination, deepen technical expertise, and showcase excellence both locally and internationally.
Describing the students as “the heartbeat of Nigeria’s future,” Olawande enjoined the participants to view the competition as an opportunity for learning, discovery, and career advancement, while reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to expanding programmes that foster youth creativity, skills development, and mentorship.
On her part, the General Manager, Integrated Gas, First E&P, Engr. Yetunde Taiwo said the company’s participation reflects its core values of nurturing talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
According to her, while First E&P has long supported education at the secondary-school level, the Olympiad offers a unique opportunity to engage university-level engineering students and expose them to real-world industry challenges.
Expressing concern over the growing brain drain, Taiwo noted that many graduates emigrate due to limited opportunities to apply their skills locally.
She emphasised that initiatives like the Olympiad, supported by strong government-industry collaboration, can create sustainable career pathways, help retain talent, and reassure young engineers that viable opportunities exist within Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by Engr. Amino Hamisu hailed the Olympiad as a landmark step toward strengthening engineering excellence and advancing national technological development.
The President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Ogunsola in her key note address, described the Olympiad as a “watershed moment” in bridging the gap between academia and industry.
She called it a national innovation incubator designed to transform final-year engineering projects into commercially viable products through structured mentorship, prototype development, and intellectual property support.
According to her, NSE will provide expert guidance to ensure students’ innovations meet global standards. Applications opened on 20 November, 2025 and will close on 11 January, 2026. Teams can register via the official portal: https://www.neo.org.ng.
