The Nigeria Computer Society, Lagos State Chapter, has honoured outstanding candidates in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination and university students for innovative information technology projects.

The award recipients were recognised at the 17th NCS Lagos Chapter Information Technology Summit and Awards held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

The awards covered outstanding performance in the 2025 WAEC, innovative final-year university projects, information technology competitions and innovation in artificial intelligence and robotics.

In the SIDMACH Prize category for the best 2025 WAEC candidates in Lagos State, Joshua Mike-Nnaji of Grace High School, Gbagada, emerged first.

Esther Sikuade and Estesoghena Itapei, both of The Lagoon School, Lekki, came second and third, respectively.

The Mrs Veronica Ola Owolabi IT Champs Award recognised outstanding pupils and students in three categories.

In the upper primary category, Aishat Akintunde of Platform Schools came first, while Eyitayo Oluwafemi Jeremiah, also of Platform Schools, emerged second.

In the junior secondary category, Oluwanifemi Ogunkunle of Platform Schools won first place, followed by Anthony Okamigbo of Doradiem Schools in second place and Josiah Chibueze Williams of Great Vertex in third place.

For the senior secondary category, Abdulhameed Ibrahim of Platform Global Academy emerged first, while Qosim Ahmad of Heritage Global Academy came second. Faheem Mustapha of Platform Schools came third.

In the Salako Maven AI and Robotics Prize, Lagos State Model Senior College, Meiran, emerged as the winner.

Olamide Olanrewaju of Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu, came first runner-up, while Adedotun Temitope Babarinlo of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, emerged second runner-up.

The Don Etiebet Innovative Prize, which recognised outstanding final-year information technology projects in universities, went to David Dada of the University of Lagos, in first place, while Tijani Sheu of Lagos State University came second.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of NCS Lagos State, Adesina Adewale, said the awards were part of efforts to identify and encourage skilled and talented students who could contribute to Nigeria’s digital economy.

He said the society’s initiatives were designed to promote professional development, digital skills, innovation, youth empowerment and collaboration between academic institutions and the industry.

Adewale said, “We cannot build a sustainable digital economy without building the people who power it.”

He highlighted the society’s engagements with educational institutions, including the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and Lagos State University of Education, to promote technology skills, research, innovation and industry-academia collaboration.

He said the society had also engaged more than 250 students at Yaba College of Technology on information technology career opportunities, professional development and the demands of the digital economy.

Adewale said the society would continue to strengthen its partnerships with educational institutions and other stakeholders to prepare young people for emerging opportunities in the digital economy.

He also announced plans to deepen engagement with the education sector through an e-learning conference and schools’ stakeholders’ forum, aimed at bringing together government officials, school leaders, educators, technology professionals and innovators.

He said the society’s goal was to build a digitally skilled population, strengthen institutions, encourage innovation and translate technological advancement into sustainable development.