GCSS Borikiri emerges winner out of 140 participants in 2026 NLNG Science contest

By Onu Okorie

Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, has emerged winner of the 2026 NLNG Science Contest, clinching the top prize after an outstanding performance in the grand finale held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

The competition, organised by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), attracted 140 secondary schools from across Rivers State, with only seven schools advancing to the final round after a rigorous selection process.

The 2026 edition, themed “Powering Tomorrow: Science and Innovative Solutions,” brought together students from across the state to showcase their knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. The contest aims to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, encourage healthy academic competition, and nurture future scientists, engineers, and technologists.

Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, distinguished itself throughout the competition, demonstrating exceptional accuracy, confidence, and mastery of science concepts to emerge overall winner. The victory marked the culmination of a demanding three-phased contest comprising the Championship, Science Project Exhibition, and Grand Finale.

In the Science Project Exhibition category, Government Girls Secondary School, Orominieke, secured first place, while Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School, Oginigba, and Government Girls Secondary School, Finima-Bonny, finished second and third respectively.

Speaking at the grand finale, Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, described the contest as a strategic investment in the future of young Nigerians and the development of the country’s next generation of innovators.

“The NLNG Science Contest provides the framework required for innovation-led projects to thrive, as NLNG continues to inspire a sustainable future through the power of science,” she said.

Horsfall noted that the competition has evolved into a catalyst for academic excellence, with a renewed focus on strengthening foundational knowledge in Mathematics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

“Our goal is to go beyond the textbook, sparking the critical thinking and innovation that our world so urgently needs,” she added.

She reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to promoting quality education and deepening students’ interest in STEM disciplines, stressing that Nigeria’s future depends on young people who can think critically, innovate boldly, and develop practical solutions to societal challenges.

Also speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, underscored the importance of education as the foundation of scientific innovation and national development.

According to him, education equips young people with critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and the confidence needed to transform ideas into practical solutions.

“The Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, remains committed to strengthening the education sector through improved infrastructure, capacity building for teachers, curriculum enhancement, and the promotion of STEM education,” Nwagor stated.

He commended all participants for their hard work, determination, discipline, and intellectual excellence, describing them as future scientists, innovators, engineers, researchers, and leaders regardless of the final outcome.

The Science Project Exhibition, recently introduced into the competition, has broadened the scope of the contest by providing students with opportunities to develop and showcase practical solutions to scientific and environmental challenges.

First launched in 2008 and relaunched in 2020 following a six-year pause for process improvement, the NLNG Science Contest has grown into one of Rivers State’s leading platforms for identifying talent, encouraging innovation, and inspiring excellence in science education.

The competition is organised 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.