Visually- impaired students, others to represent Nigeria in global AI contest

The “Beyond Sight” team, a group of resilient visually impaired students from Lagos State, captured the hearts of judges and spectators alike with their sophisticated AI-powered audio wearable glasses designed for safe and independent living.

Their brilliance was further demonstrated through a secondary innovation, which is an AI-powered walking stick capable of sensing environmental hazards such as smoke and fire.

Codeavour Country Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Beebahtics Enterprise,  Habeebah Ibrahim, expressed her deep admiration for the participants, stressing that these students have redefined what is possible through technology and grit.

She emphasised that the mission of Codeavour in Nigeria has always been to democratise access to Science Technology and Engineering, and seeing these students qualify for an international stage in Indonesia is a testament to the transformative power of inclusive education.

She said: “Today we have witnessed that innovation has no physical boundaries. Seeing our visually impaired students qualify for the International Championship in Indonesia with their AI-powered solutions is a profound reminder that when we provide the right tools and an inclusive environment, every child, regardless of their physical ability, can lead the charge in the digital revolution.

“At Beebahtics and through the Codeavour platform, we aren’t just teaching code; we are empowering a generation to see challenges as opportunities for invention. These students didn’t just compete today; they dismantled stereotypes and proved that the future of Nigerian tech is truly for everyone.”

The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, who graced the occasion, remarked on the high technical calibre of the projects, adding that the ingenuity displayed by the students offers a bright outlook for the future of Nigerian engineering and software development.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of STEM Childcare Academy in Abuja,  Mamu Muhammad, highlighted that the success of these teams, particularly those from the federal capital and northern regions, reflects a growing national movement toward technological literacy.

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He described the national finals  as a bridge  connecting young minds from diverse backgrounds through creative problem-solving.

As the host of the national finals,  the Director of Education at Charterhouse Lagos, John Todd expressed delight  in seeing the school serve as a launchpad for such historic achievements.

He stated  that the energy at the venue was electric, adding that the Nigerian education system is capable of fostering world-class innovators when given the right platforms.

The competition was fiercely contested across three distinct tracks and multiple age categories with 36 teams across categories and tracks qualifying for the global championship in Indonesia.

 In Track 1, Team Focus Frontier secured the top spot in the Elementary category, while Intercontinental Team Kano triumphed in the Junior category. The Senior category was led by Team Biteback, followed closely by the inspirational Beyond Sight Team in second place.

Track 2 saw dominant performances from Code Crushers in the Elementary division, Trinity Tribe in the Junior category, and Team City in the Senior category. Meanwhile, Track 3 featured standout victories from Team Supercoders, Focus Frontier (Junior), and Robogha (Senior).

As these young ambassadors prepare for their journey to Jakarta, the Codeavour 7.0 National Championship stands as a landmark event in Nigeria’s educational history.

It was not merely a competition of coding, AI and robotics, but a celebration of human potential and the breaking of barriers. The qualified teams now carry the hopes of a nation, ready to showcase Nigerian-made AI solutions on the global stage  in May.