Nigerian Young Innovators Win Global Tech Grand Prize
Two Nigerian girls have brought international acclaim to the nation, winning the Beginner Division of the 2025 Technovation Global Summit.
Ten-year-olds Akachukwu Blessed Nwachukwu and Ifunanya Gabriella Okoye, both from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, secured the grand prize with their innovative artificial intelligence (AI) app designed to combat distracted and drowsy driving.
The Winning AI Solution
Competing as Team Appsolute, the duo developed an AI-powered mobile app called “Stay Woke.”
The application uses facial recognition and voice interaction to detect real-time driver fatigue, issuing alerts to prevent accidents before they happen.
Team Appsolute defeated strong teams from countries including Japan, Spain, Canada, and Peru to clinch the world title at the competition’s grand finale.
A Platform for Global Innovation
Technovation is the world’s largest tech entrepreneurship program for girls aged 8 to 18.
This year’s program saw massive participation, with over 33,000 participants from 117 countries and more than 3,200 tech-based solutions developed.
The young innovators were trained through the Code Ambassadors Academy, a STEM-accredited platform that teaches coding, robotics, AI, and design skills.
Somkenechukwu Mamah, their mentor and founder of the academy, hailed the victory as a breakthrough for African innovation.
He stated that the win “proves that innovation knows no age or boundary” and demonstrates the ability of young people in Nigeria and Africa to “compete and win on the global stage.”
Akachukwu and Ifunanya credited their success to their mentor’s guidance and the unwavering support of their parents, declaring that their victory is for “every girl who dreams of transforming the world through technology.”