The Destiny Trust, a non-profit foundation dedicated to educating and empowering children from underserved backgrounds, has equipped young leaders across Nigeria with the skills needed to address some of the country’s toughest challenges.

Speaking at the Kids Innovation Challenge held over the weekend, co-founder of the foundation, Abimola Ojenike, explained that the event formed part of a broader empowerment drive to teach children technology and hard skills. “We believe every Nigerian child, especially those from vulnerable backgrounds, should be able to use technology not just as consumers but also as creators and innovators,” he said.

Highlighting Africa’s unique position, Ojenike noted that its vast youth population could either be an advantage or a liability. “Africa’s position as the continent with the largest youth population presents both an opportunity and a risk. If children are not empowered and educated today, the vast youth numbers could become a liability,” he warned.

He stressed that the innovation challenge gives young Nigerians a platform to propose solutions to pressing societal problems. “This challenge ensures that the young population becomes an asset by giving them the opportunity to present solutions to critical problems,” Ojenike added.

According to him, the foundation received over 66 applications from children nationwide, with projects spanning software, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). After shortlisting and interviews, 10 finalists were chosen to showcase their ideas.

Senior Counsel at Paystack, Ugo Nwaokike, emphasized the importance of supporting young innovators. “Supporting the children is critical for powering African ambition and sustaining the ecosystem for future innovation,” he said. He noted that this was his third time serving as a judge at the program. “I have witnessed firsthand the significant impact it has on young minds over time,” he added.

At the event, OpticLearn AI emerged as the winner of the tech innovation challenge, taking home the ₦2 million grand prize. Koko-Rack and Agrictech finished as first and second runners-up, receiving ₦1 million and ₦500,000, respectively.

Beyond cash prizes, all three winners were awarded computers and enrolled in a year-long mentorship programme to enhance their technology skills, financial literacy, and capacity to build sustainable ventures