CALABAR, CROSS RIVER— Cross River State has actually cemented its position as a fast-rising tech hub in Nigeria after the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Calabar, secured a brilliant second-place surface at the distinguished Third National Girls in ICT Competitors 2026.
The student innovators stood out amongst over 3,700 individuals from schools across the 36 states of the federation.
The nationwide tech showdown, organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, concluded at the State Home Conference Centre in Abuja.
The platform showcased cutting-edge software and hardware models engineered completely by young schoolgirls to take on regional socio-economic challenges.
Guv Otu Praises “Worthwhile Ambassadors”
Responding to the exceptional accomplishment, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, described the runner-up finish as a massive recognition of his administration’s ongoing monetary investments in fundamental education, digital literacy, and human capital development.
While the Unique Education Centre, Bauchi, became the overall national champion, the women from FGGC Cross River surpassed Resonance Science School, Abia, which ended up third.
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Guv Otu specified that emerging in the top three of an extremely competitive national pool is no common achievement, noting that the success shows Cross River is blessed with exceptionally gifted young minds efficient in matching worldwide standards.
First Woman Urges Finalists to Stay “Curious and Bold”
The grand finale was graced by the First Woman, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who provided an inspiring address to the national finalists.
Mrs Tinubu charged the ladies to stay “curious, confident, and courageous,” urging them to see innovation not merely as a pathway for individual advancement but as a powerful tool to boost grassroots neighborhoods.
Guv Otu aligned himself with the First Lady’s vision, emphasising that every clinical advancement begins with curiosity.
He kept in mind that empowering girls with crucial digital abilities is a tactical financial investment that yields stronger families, smarter communities, and a more durable national economy.
The occasion also included high-level policy discussions from the Minister of Communications, Development and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who repeated that intellectual luster understands no geographical boundaries in Nigeria.
The Minister cautioned that the country’s digital economy could never reach its complete potential if females and women were left, asserting that the future economy can not be constructed by “only half of Nigeria.”
Guv Otu praised Dr Tijani’s steadfast commitment to expanding digital addition through nationwide frameworks like Project BRIDGE, the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, and the National Artificial Intelligence Technique.
Supporting this vision, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, challenged the trainees to step beyond being simple passive consumers of foreign technology and become proactive inventors.
Governor Otu invited the Federal Government’s upcoming rollout of specialised Code Club packages, which will supply Raspberry Pi computers, robotics equipment, and strenuous teacher-training resources to public schools nationwide, stating that such grassroots democratisation of innovation is what will define Nigeria’s competitiveness in the 21st century.