The Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB) has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs by promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and entrepreneurship education among primary and junior secondary school students.
The Acting Executive Chairperson of FCT-UBEB, Florence Wenegieme, made this known at the 16th Annual Junior Engineers, Technology Scientists (JETS) and Entrepreneurship Competition held in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Physical Planning and Project Monitoring, Mansur Sule, Wenegieme said the initiative demonstrates that age is no barrier to innovation.
The competition, themed “Popularising Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Entrepreneurship Education,” showcased creative projects developed by pupils from primary and junior secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Wenegieme, the programme is designed to encourage young people to become entrepreneurs and wealth creators instead of relying solely on paid employment.
“A good number of these students—some still in primary school—are already manufacturing items they can sell. They aren’t waiting to be hired. They are thinking about how to build businesses that will grow our economy and strengthen the nation’s tax base,” she said.
She added that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government and has received the support of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to prepare young Nigerians for careers in technology, innovation, and enterprise.
Also speaking, the Director of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, Angela Owan-Chukwu, stressed the importance of exposing children to entrepreneurship and innovation at an early age.
“We need to catch them young. By nurturing their curiosity early, we will ensure that by the time they graduate, they already know how to turn ideas into income,” she said.
Owan-Chukwu also commended the increased participation of private schools in the 2026 competition, noting that it demonstrated the quality of public school education.
She, however, identified inadequate funding as a major challenge and called on government agencies and private sector organisations to support young innovators with the resources needed to develop their ideas.
“These children are thinking way ahead of us. When they lack the funds to build what they imagine, it will be heart-breaking. We need the private sector to come onboard and help us scale this up,” she said.
The Director of the FCT Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Olobashola Kolawole, represented by Deputy Director Evelyn Eneja, described the competition as more than an academic exercise.
He said science, technology, and entrepreneurship are critical to national development because they equip young people with the skills to solve problems, create jobs, and drive innovation.
Similarly, FCT JETS Coordinator, Idris Ibrahim, said the programme aims to produce self-reliant graduates who can create businesses and employment opportunities rather than depend solely on job opportunities.
The event featured project exhibitions and the presentation of awards to outstanding young innovators across different categories.
