Akwa Ibom sensation: SS1 whiz kid wins N1m at Youth Tech contest

Tony Okoh, Uyo

In a stunning display of youthful ingenuity, a Senior Secondary 1 student from Uyo’s Christian Secondary Commercial School has emerged victorious in the inaugural ARISE Youth Skills Pitching Contest.

The contest was the highlight of Day 1 of the ARISE Youth Skills Week 2025, which opened at the Ibom LED Centre, Uyo, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the United Nations World Youth Skills Day.

The event, which was organised by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth Development, brought together hundreds of young talents, policymakers, and innovation stakeholders from across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State, with the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Ekerette Paul Ekanem, flagging off proceedings.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ekanem described the youth-focused celebration as “a bold step in the right direction,” noting that the administration of Governor Umo Eno has placed a premium on preparing young people for a digital and innovation-driven economy.

His words: “The decision of His Excellency to create a stand-alone Ministry of Youth Development is not just strategic but deeply visionary. This event is not a mere ceremony; it is a commitment to build a future where Akwa Ibom youths take the lead in innovation and enterprise.”

The Commissioner also unveiled the State’s new Youth Development Template, which he said was designed in line with the Governor’s ARISE Agenda.

The winning student, whose agric-guard prototype was adjudged the most impactful and scalable by a team of independent judges, scored an impressive 83% to outshine other finalists. The innovation is said to target early pest detection and produce monitoring in remote farm locations, a solution some judges described as “ahead of its time.”

His ₦1 million prize was presented by Governor Umo Eno during the closing ceremony of the Youth Skills Week today, alongside many winners from other categories in the pitching and skill competitions.

Other winners from different categories also received various cash and innovation support packages.

Our Correspondent reports that the event, which featured a high-level panel session, where discussions centred on “Harnessing Youth Skills for Economic Growth and Innovation,” the theme of this year’s programme, is expected to wrap up today, with Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Olawande Oyedele, scheduled to deliver the keynote address and present awards.