Four young Nigerian girls from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, are heading to Bengaluru, India, after securing a place among the five global finalists in the 2026 Technovation Girls Global Challenge Beginner Division.
Team Appsolute will represent Nigeria and Africa at the innovation Girls World Summit in October, where they will compete for the Beginner Division Global Prize with AgeWell, an artificial intelligence-powered mobile application designed to support older people.
The team comprises 11-year-old Akachukwu Blessed Nwachukwu, 11-year-old Ifunanya Gabriella Okoye, nine-year-old Onyinyechi Daniella Okoye and nine-year-old Mmerichukwu Esther Nwachukwu.
Their achievement came after a highly competitive season involving more than 12,000 girls from over 130 countries, with participants submitting more than 3,600 mobile app and artificial intelligence projects. Team Appsolute emerged as the only African team among the five finalists in their division, alongside teams from Canada, Spain, Mexico and Japan.
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AgeWell Uses AI to Support Older People
The girls developed AgeWell to address challenges associated with ageing, including loneliness, neglect and safety concerns. The application combines mobile technology and artificial intelligence to promote greater independence, safety and economic inclusion for older adults.
One of its key features is an AI-powered fall detection system designed to identify when an elderly person has fallen and facilitate access to assistance. The app also provides opportunities for older adults to share their knowledge and skills while earning income from their experience.
By combining safety features with opportunities for social and economic participation, the team designed AgeWell around the everyday realities faced by older people.
The project also reflects the girls’ ability to apply technology to social challenges and develop solutions with practical uses beyond the classroom.
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From 2025 Grand Prize Winners to Back-to-Back Finalists
The 2026 global final marks Team Appsolute’s second consecutive appearance at the innovation Girls Global Finals, but the journey began with two of its members.
Akachukwu and Ifunanya were part of the Nigerian team that won the 2025 innovation Girls Beginner Division Grand Prize with StayWoke, an AI-powered application designed to tackle drowsy driving.
They returned to the competition in 2026 and expanded Team Appsolute with Onyinyechi and Mmerichukwu, developing a new solution focused on a different real-world challenge.
The girls were trained and mentored by Somkenechukwu Chukwudera Mamah, founder of Code Ambassadors Academy, with support from their parents, Mrs Treasure Nwachukwu and Mrs Chinenye Okoye.
Mamah said the team’s success demonstrates the potential of Nigerian children when they have access to technology education, mentorship and opportunities to develop their ideas.
innovation Girls is a global technology entrepreneurship programme that encourages girls to identify problems in their communities and develop technology-based solutions.
For Team Appsolute, the journey from StayWoke to AgeWell shows what can happen when young innovators are given the opportunity to keep learning, building and competing on a global stage. Their return to the finals also puts another spotlight on the growing potential of Nigerian girls in STEM and technology.
At RefinedNG, we will continue to spotlight the young Nigerians building solutions, breaking barriers and representing Africa on global platforms. Follow RefinedNG for more stories on innovation, technology and the people shaping Africa’s future.