Robotics Championships: NSC Boss, Youth Minister Unite To Keep Nigerian Youth Engaged

National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko was joined by Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande at the the FirstLego League (FLL) National Robotics Championship 2025 organized with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education. at the indoor sports hall of the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

The sport showcases robot designs by students. This season’s theme ‘submerged’ challenged
participants to explore the depths of the ocean and create solutions for the challenges faced by professionals in underwater environments.

By engaging with this theme, students developed robot designs and projects that reflect the unique conditions of ocean exploration, fostering problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of marine science and technology.

There were demonstrations as the organizers showcased the sport to NSC Chairman and Minister of Youth Development highlighting the scoring systems and the intellectual challenges for the contestants as well as the potentials outcome to their career!

Dikko said, “I have been told that only one country has made this sport (robotics) an official sport. We will work with the organizers so that Nigeria could become the second country if all the parameters are right as this would get our youths engaged and help us to create the sports economy. It falls within our vision of harnessing the numerous potentials inherent in our youths through sports.”

Yewande’s words, “I have always advocated that every youth should have more than one skill. When we have somebody like Mallam Shehu Dikko at NSC it is much easier to create these opportunities for our youths. We will keep collaborating to take our youths off the streets and get them meaningfully engaged.”

The championship which lasts from January 26 to 30 will feature displays and demonstrations of robot building and design, programming, computational thinking, project research, time management, and teamwork. During the competition, a panel of judges, composed of industry professionals, will assess and score the students based on standard rubrics, including the core values of the First LegoLeague and First Tech Challenge programs.

Winners will earn the opportunity to represent Nigeria at international competitions in America, Europe, Asia, and South America, continuing their learning journey and contributing to the global conversation on innovation.