Young Nigerian innovators stole the show at the 2026 Abuja Hackathon, taking top prizes in drone and robotics challenges with tech built to tackle real problems.
Team Alpha Flyers won big with a drone project designed to move beyond recreation and solve practical issues. “It’s showing how far Nigerian minds can go when we come together,” said team member Fatima Kalembe.
She added that with more collaboration, Nigeria’s youth can tackle the country’s biggest challenges. Teammate Karma Mohammed said the group trained for just two weeks but stayed focused on excellence.
In the senior robotics category, Team Everest’s Emmanuel Offornagoro showcased a robot programmed to move objects to safety during emergencies. “We could build a robot that saves citizens when it’s needed,” he said.
Team Spark also took home top honours with “Rescue Naija,” a rescue robot prototype aimed at supporting security and emergency operations in both rural and urban areas. Team member Mary-Claret Onyenwe said the project could help address insecurity if scaled up.
Event convener Abba Saidu said the hackathon was created to give Nigerian youth hands-on tech skills and spark home-grown solutions. “Robotics is the future of economies. We need tech that fits our local realities, not just imported ideas,” he said.
