By Bisi Bamishe
The 2026 NLNG Science Contest came to a remarkable close on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, emerged winner after a strong performance in the grand finale.
The contest, themed “Powering Tomorrow: Science and Innovative Solutions” brought students from across Rivers State in a showcase of knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills to promote STEM education, encourage healthy academic competition, and nurture future scientists, engineers and technologists.
After several rounds of intense intellectual challenge, Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, outperformed other contestants to clinch the top prize.
The victory marked the conclusion of a rigorous three-phased contest comprising the Championship, Science Project Exhibition, and Grand Finale. The school distinguished itself through accuracy, composure, and a strong grasp of science concepts.
In the Science Project Exhibition, Government Girls Secondary School Orominieke secured the top position, followed by Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary school Oginigba in second place, and Government Girls Secondary School Finima-Bonny in third place.
Speaking at the finale, Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of NLNG, described the contest as a deliberate investment in the future of young people and in the development of Nigeria’s next generation of innovators.
“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”.
“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 emphasised that NLNG remains committed to promoting quality education and strengthening interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, adding that the future of the country would depend largely on young minds who could think critically, innovate boldly, and provide solutions to real-life challenges.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Hon. Dr. Peters Nwagor, stated that education remains the foundation upon which scientific innovation thrives, noting that it equips young minds with critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and the confidence to transform ideas into practical solutions. He said the Rivers State Government recognizes the strategic importance of science education in building a prosperous and competitive society.
“The Rivers State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, remains committed to strengthening the education sector through improved infrastructure, capacity building for teachers, curriculum enhancement, and the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education,” he said.
Addressing the students participating in the competition, the Commissioner congratulated them for reaching that stage. He described their participation as evidence of hard work, determination, discipline, and intellectual excellence. He added that whether or not they emerged winners, they had already distinguished themselves as future scientists, innovators, engineers, researchers, and leaders.
The 2026 NLNG Science Contest commenced with 140 secondary schools from across Rivers State, out of which seven schools qualified for the final round. In the Science Project Exhibition category, 11 out of 42 schools advanced to the final stage of the competition.
First introduced in 2008 and relaunched in 2020 after a six-year pause for process improvement, the NLNG Science Contest has continued to grow as a major platform for promoting excellence in science education.
The recent introduction of the Science Project Exhibition has further expanded the scope of the contest, giving students an opportunity to showcase practical solutions to scientific and environmental challenges while deepening their engagement with STEM.
The competition is organised in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Education, the Rivers State Chapter of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), and Dragnet Solutions Limited.
Over the years, the competition has become a strong platform for identifying talent, encouraging innovation, and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technologists in Rivers State.
