Fred Shawel

Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, has emerged champion of the 2026 NLNG Science Contest, defeating other finalists in the grand finale held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The competition, themed “Powering Tomorrow: Science and Innovative Solutions,” brought together students from across Rivers State to showcase their knowledge, creativity and problem-solving abilities, with the aim of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and nurturing the next generation of innovators.

After several rounds of rigorous intellectual competition, Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, clinched the overall title, demonstrating outstanding accuracy, confidence and a strong grasp of scientific concepts.

The victory marked the culmination of a three-stage contest comprising the Championship Round, Science Project Exhibition and Grand Finale.

In the Science Project Exhibition category, Government Girls Secondary School, Orominieke, secured first place, while Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School, Oginigba, and Government Girls Secondary School, Finima-Bonny, finished second and third respectively.

Speaking at the event, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of Nigeria LNG Limited, Sophia Horsfall, described the competition as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future and the development of the country’s next generation of scientists and innovators.

According to her, the contest provides a platform that encourages innovation-driven projects while inspiring young people to embrace science as a tool for sustainable development.

“The NLNG Science Contest provides the framework required for innovation-led projects to thrive, as NLNG continues to inspire a sustainable future through the power of science.”

She explained that the competition had been redesigned to deepen students’ understanding of Mathematics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Physics, Chemistry and Biology, while encouraging critical thinking and creativity beyond the classroom.

“This platform now serves as a genuine catalyst for excellence. We have redesigned it to strengthen foundational knowledge in Mathematics, ICT, Physics, Chemistry and Biology across a much broader scope. Our goal is to go beyond the textbook, sparking the critical thinking and innovation that our world so urgently needs,” she said.

Horsfall reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to promoting quality education and strengthening interest in STEM disciplines, noting that Nigeria’s future prosperity would depend on young people who can think critically, innovate boldly and develop practical solutions to societal challenges.

Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Peters Nwagor, said education remains the foundation for scientific innovation because it equips young people with the creativity, analytical skills and confidence required to transform ideas into practical solutions.

He stated that the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Siminalayi Fubara, remains committed to strengthening the education sector through improved infrastructure, teacher capacity development, curriculum enhancement and the promotion of STEM education.

Addressing the finalists, Nwagor congratulated them for reaching the concluding stage of the competition, describing their participation as evidence of hard work, discipline and intellectual excellence.

He urged the students to see themselves as future scientists, engineers, researchers and leaders, stressing that their achievements had already distinguished them irrespective of the final outcome.

The 2026 edition of the NLNG Science Contest began with 140 secondary schools across Rivers State, from which seven schools qualified for the grand finale. In the Science Project Exhibition category, 42 schools participated, with 11 advancing to the final stage.

First introduced in 2008 and relaunched in 2020 after a six-year hiatus to improve its processes, the competition has evolved into one of Rivers State’s leading platforms for promoting excellence in science education.

The addition of the Science Project Exhibition has further broadened the programme by giving students an opportunity to develop and showcase practical solutions to scientific and environmental challenges.

The competition is organised by NLNG in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Education, the Rivers State chapter of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria and Dragnet Solutions Limited.

Over the years, the initiative has become an important platform for identifying young talent, fostering innovation and inspiring future generations of scientists, engineers and technologists in Rivers State.