How WITIN’s Exhibition Connected Young Innovators

One month after the WITIN’s Girls national summit and STEM exhibition 2025 brought together, girls, educators, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the country to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT Abuja), the effects are already making impacts across Nigerian schools.

From Taraba to Borno, Kano to Anambra, and across the FCT, the girls who converged at Abuja from across Nigeria have returned home to ignite a fresh wave of innovation, with many schools now integrating Science, Technology, Engineering , and Mathematics (STEM) clubs, new practical projects, and new aspirations for science and technology.

Girls from North East Nigeria—including Taraba and Borno States—joined their peers from the North West, especially Kano, where several teams emerged, along with strong representations from Anambra State and schools across the Federal Capital Territory. The diverse attendance reflected the national character of the summit and the growing hunger among girls to participate in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy. The two days summit recorded about a thousand participants.Supported by ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), among others, the summit showcased how collaboration could empower girls to tackle pressing issues across energy, environment, health, agriculture, robotics, digital innovation, and sustainable development. From solar-powered solutions and waste management systems to AI-powered educational tools and community-focused projects addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the event delivered one of the most comprehensive and impactful STEM showcases in recent Nigerian history.There were competitions among the girls, which encouraged them to choose at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and develop STEM-based solutions addressing real problems in their communities, practically applying STEM subjects being taught in the classrooms.Executive Director of Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN), Martha Omoekpen Alade, said: “Girls from rural and urban schools are returning with renewed confidence. We are seeing classrooms transformed into mini innovation hubs.”

Governor’s Girls College, Kano, emerged 2nd runner-up, with Solar-Powered Truck (Renewable Energy Category).

Federal Government College, Maiduguri, emerged 1st runner-up with Sustainable Smart City (Urban & Habitation Solutions), while Trinity Secondary School, Onitsha emerged overall winner and national champion, with SACHA (Waste Management Category)The summit also benefited from strong academic partnerships, with 11 universities across Nigeria lending support, mentorship, and expertise to all participants.