Bayelsa Students Clinch National Honour at Engineering Competition
Students of Bishop Dimeari Grammar School (BDGS), Yenagoa, have brought pride to Bayelsa State after emerging second runner-up at the National Young Engineers and Future Leaders Competition held at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The achievement has been widely praised as a testament to the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund’s (EDTF) sustained investment in coding, robotics and technology-driven learning across public secondary schools in the state.
Representing BDGS, SS2 studentsstudents Charis Gabriel and Fetongha Wilberforce impressed judges with their innovative project titled “Flood Detective and Emergency Response,” a robotics-based solution designed to detect flooding early and trigger automated emergency alerts. The project stood out for its practical application in addressing environmental challenges, particularly those common in flood-prone communities.
Speaking after the competition in Yenagoa, Gabriel and the school’s ICT tutor, Mr. Arnold Ayebadieye, expressed gratitude to the EDTF for introducing advanced technological training into the secondary school curriculum. They noted that early exposure to robotics and coding equipped the students with the skills and confidence needed to compete at a national level.
The Principal of BDGS, Mrs. Beauty Asamawei, also commended the Fund for sponsoring the team’s trip to Oyo State and for providing consistent institutional support. She described the students’ success as a proud moment for the school and a clear demonstration of the untapped potential of Bayelsa youths when given the right opportunities.
Receiving the students at his office, the Executive Secretary of the EDTF, Prof. Ebimieowei Etebu, said the performance of the BDGS team justified the state’s investment in modern science and technology education. He stressed that the achievement underscores the importance of empowering young people to develop homegrown solutions to local environmental and developmental challenges.
The competition featured top-performing schools from across the country, with Shalom Science and Technical College, Enugu, winning the overall prize, while King’s College, Lagos, finished second.
For their impressive third-place finish, the BDGS team received a cash prize of N350,000, further cementing Bayelsa State’s growing reputation as a hub for emerging talent in science, technology and innovation.
