Borikiri School Emerges Champion at 2026 NLNG Science Contest in Port Harcourt
Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, has emerged winner of the 2026 NLNG Science Contest after a competitive grand finale held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The contest, which featured top secondary schools across the state, tested students’ knowledge and problem-solving skills in science and innovation under the theme “Powering Tomorrow: Science and Innovative Solutions.” Borikiri School secured the top prize after three intense rounds, while other schools also excelled in the Science Project Exhibition category.
judithhh
Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, emerged champion of the 2026 NLNG Science Contest after a strong showing at Wednesday’s grand finale in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The contest, held under the theme “Powering Tomorrow: Science and Innovative Solutions,” brought top-performing students from across the state to compete in rounds designed to test knowledge, creativity and problem‑solving, with the aim of promoting STEM education and nurturing future scientists, engineers and technologists.
After several intense rounds, Borikiri outperformed its rivals to claim the top prize, capping a competition that unfolded over three phases: the Championship, the Science Project Exhibition and the Grand Finale. Judges praised the winning team for accuracy, composure and a deep grasp of core science concepts.
In the Science Project Exhibition category, Government Girls Secondary School, Orominieke, took first place. Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School finished second, while Government Girls Secondary School, Finima‑Bonny, placed third.
Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, said the contest represents a deliberate investment in Nigeria’s next generation of innovators. “The NLNG Science Contest provides the framework required for innovation‑led projects to thrive,” she said, adding that the programme has been redesigned to strengthen foundational knowledge in Mathematics, ICT, Physics, Chemistry and Biology and to encourage critical thinking beyond textbook learning.
Horsfall reiterated NLNG’s commitment to quality education and to cultivating interest in STEM fields, saying the nation’s future will depend on young people who can think critically, innovate boldly and provide practical solutions to real‑world problems.
Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr. Peters Nwagor, described education as the bedrock of scientific progress and commended the students for their discipline and intellectual rigour. He said the state government, under Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, remains committed to improving school infrastructure, building teacher capacity, and enhancing curricula to deepen STEM engagement.
The 2026 contest began with 140 secondary schools from across Rivers State, with seven advancing to the final round. In the Science Project Exhibition stream, 11 of 42 participating schools reached the finals. First introduced in 2008 and relaunched in 2020 after a six‑year review, the NLNG Science Contest has expanded in recent years; the new project exhibition element gives students a platform to present practical solutions to scientific and environmental challenges.
Organisers said the competition run in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Education, the Rivers State chapter of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), and Dragnet Solutions Limited continues to be a key pipeline for identifying talent and inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals in Rivers State.
