Lagos State Clinches Top Spot at National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists Competition

Lagos State has emerged as the overall best at the 27th edition of the National Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists (JETS) competition, held at the Nuclear Technology Center, Seda Science and Tech Complex in Abuja, Nigeria. The state secured the prestigious Best Overall JETS Award, including a victory in the Quiz competition during the grand finale.

This year’s competition, which saw the participation of 200 students from 20 states, was centered around the theme “Integrated Technologies for Sustainable Food Production and Security.” The JETS competition, inaugurated in 1988, aims to introduce students to technology as a solution to societal challenges.

Throughout the weeklong event, participants showcased their innovative solutions, including an automatic fire detector, an online election application enabling diaspora voting, drones, and a technology designed to mitigate farmers-herders conflicts in Nigeria.

At the closing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, emphasized the critical role of technology and innovation in driving socio-economic growth and sustainability. He noted that Nigeria has the potential to achieve sustainable development through technological advancements.

“We live in an era where technology and innovation are key drivers of progress and development. Today’s competition has highlighted the immense creativity among our students, providing technological solutions for food security and other societal challenges,” said Sani-Gwarzo.

He urged the students to continue utilizing their talents for national development, especially in food security, which remains a vital concern for Nigeria’s future.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Niger State, Professor Uno Uno, lauded the competition’s growth and stressed the importance of collaboration with the private sector to further promote student innovations.

In a celebratory note, the Director of Science and Technology at Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Grace Akinfoyewa, attributed the success of the Lagos team to the dedication of the students and the continuous support from the state government.

The students expressed their gratitude to their mentors, with David Babalola, a standout participant, sharing his passion for the sciences and his hard work as key factors in his success.

The JETS competition, now in its 36th year, continues to nurture Nigeria’s future engineers, scientists, and innovators, paving the way for advancements in various sectors, particularly agriculture and technology.