3 schools emerge finalists in Glo Innov8 STEM challenge for girls

The curtains are gradually falling on Globacom’s “Glo Innov8” National STEM competition for girls in senior secondary schools across the country, as three top finalists have emerged for the grand finale slated for the Mike Adenuga Centre (Alliance Française), Ikoyi, Lagos.

Twenty schools were shortlisted from over 200 entries received, with ten advancing to the semi-final stage. The three schools that made it to the final round are Ephraim High School, Isolo Campus, Lagos; Regina Pacis International School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Peakfield Academy, Jos, Plateau State.

Following the call for entries by Glo Foundation, Globacom’s corporate social responsibility arm, hundreds of girls from secondary schools nationwide participated. Entries were received from schools across Plateau, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Oyo, Anambra, FCT, Delta, Kaduna, and Adamawa States.

The initiative, designed as a STEM-driven challenge, will reward the winning schools with prizes worth ₦5 million. The competition was launched by Glo Foundation as part of activities marking this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.

Glo Foundation explained that the competition “is geared at inspiring young girls to Compete, Innovate and Win, while also strengthening their confidence and expanding their knowledge in STEM subjects.”

The overall winning school will receive ₦2,000,000, while the two student representatives will each get a laptop, and the teacher or mentor will receive ₦200,000. Schools that place second and third will also receive consolation prizes for both students and mentors.

The three female judges of the virtual phase of the top 20 schools expressed delight at the quality of presentations. For Tosin Olabode: “I was particularly impressed by the prototype presentations from some schools. They demonstrated that they had done their homework.”

Amina Gabriel was thrilled by the variety of ideas presented. “The schools presented innovative solutions tackling issues in agriculture, security, waste management, and firefighting. The top 10 schools showcased outstanding prototypes, from apps to robots, making the judging process truly competitive. I’m grateful to Glo Foundation for the opportunity to serve and support young girls in STEM,” she noted.

“This competition has showcased a highly competitive next generation of women leaders in STEM. This was an excellent exercise and a means to encourage more students in STEM to develop problem-solving and innovative thinking skills,” said the third judge, Sharon Ibejih.