FutureMakers by NASENI has named 18 zonal winners from its nationwide innovation programme for children aged 5 to 16, culminating in the selection of six finalists who will compete for a ₦5 million grand prize. The initiative, launched on 11 December 2025 at NASENI's Abuja headquarters, progressed through a virtual hackathon from 17 to 20 August 2026, followed by live-streamed pitch sessions during FutureMakers Week from 24 to 27 August. Sixty shortlisted innovators developed prototypes addressing region-specific challenges, including food security in North Central, education costs in South West, and child trading in South East.
Each geopolitical zone produced three winners, with the first-place innovator receiving ₦1.5 million. In North West, Ruqayya Safwa Faruq won with EcoGlow Lab; in South West, Joshua Agboola with Pragma Learn; in North Central, Mary Oluwabusayomi Umahonlen with Smart Hydroponic Kit; while Precious Akabude-Odozi, Emmanuel Paul and Ogbonna-Nwota Gold took top spots in their respective zones. The six first-place winners will advance to the NASENI Invention Fest, where they will pitch for the national prize, a fully funded international innovation tour with NASENI's EVC/CEO Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and university scholarships. The event date will be announced later.
Six children will pitch at the national stage after winning ₦1.5 million each in a state-funded competition that bypassed physical hubs for virtual participation. The scale of investment in under-16 innovators raises questions about how these early wins translate into sustained support beyond the prize cycle.
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