Seventeen Nigerian students from four schools in Abuja have represented the country at the 2026 iCode World Robot Contest Finals in Beijing, China, showcasing their coding, robotics and problem-solving skills on an international stage.
The students, led by Glisten International Academy, Abuja, participated in the competition on Saturday, August 22, alongside young innovators from different countries. Five chaperones accompanied the Nigerian delegation.
Their participation provided an opportunity for the students to demonstrate their creativity, technological skills and ability to develop innovative solutions while gaining exposure to an international STEM environment.
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Nigerian Students Take STEM Skills to Beijing
The Nigerian team competed across robotics and technology-focused activities designed to test creativity, engineering ability, coding and problem-solving. The competition brought together thousands of young participants from more than 20 countries.
The Nigerian delegation included students from four Abuja schools, with Glisten International Academy serving as the lead institution. The students demonstrated their abilities in areas including robotics, intelligent machines and technology-driven innovation.
Some Nigerian participants also received recognition for their work. Students competing in the Space Exploration Challenge earned accolades including Best Style and Smart Design Expansion.
The experience gave the students an opportunity to interact with young innovators from other countries while learning in a setting that extended beyond the traditional classroom.
For the schools involved, the competition also highlighted the growing importance of introducing Nigerian children to coding, robotics, engineering and other STEM disciplines at an early age.
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Ambassador Dambazau Commends Team Nigeria
Following the competition, the students paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, where they were received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.).
Dambazau congratulated the students for their participation and commended Glisten International Academy and the accompanying team for creating the opportunity for them to gain international exposure.
He highlighted the importance of combining academic achievement with good character, discipline and responsibility.
“Learning and character must always go together,” the ambassador told the students.
Dambazau also called for more Nigerian public schools across the country’s 36 states to participate in international academic, technology and innovation programmes. He noted that exposure to international competitions, educational exchanges and different cultures can help young Nigerians broaden their perspectives and develop their potential.
The ambassador described Nigeria’s young population as an important national asset, stressing the need for continued investment in STEM education, digital skills, creativity and innovation.
The students’ participation in Beijing offers another example of how international platforms can give young Nigerians the opportunity to test their abilities, exchange ideas and represent the country globally.
For Nigeria’s growing community of young innovators, experiences like this can help build confidence and inspire more students to explore technology, robotics and problem-solving from an early age.
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