ABA, NIGERIA – Young women from across Southeast Nigeria have taken center stage in the global technology space. At the regional pitch event hosted by TechRookies on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Aba, Abia State, 40 teams of girls (aged 8–18) from across the five southeastern states gathered to present cutting-edge mobile applications and artificial intelligence solutions. Following a rigorous judging process by industry leaders, 4 exceptional teams emerged victorious to advance to the global virtual semi-final round.
The regional event marked the culmination of an intensive 4-month educational curriculum where the participants identified critical community problems and engineered tech-driven solutions. Supported by TechRookies—an EdTech social enterprise dedicated to empowering today’s children with digital and problem-solving skills—the teams addressed complex societal challenges across health, education, climate change, environmental sustainability, and gender equity.
The 4 regional winners advancing to represent Southeast Nigeria on the global stage include:
Senior Division
EcoGuard: A smart mobile application designed to improve waste management and promote environmental sustainability. The app seamlessly connects homes, businesses, and industries with verified waste collection agents and recycling companies, making it easier to dispose of recyclable waste responsibly.
Junior Division
NSL AI Translator: A mobile application designed to bridge the communication gap between deaf and non-deaf individuals in Nigeria, fostering greater social inclusion.
FireHearts: A smart fire prevention system that combines a hardware device mounted directly onto a gas cylinder with a mobile app to detect and stop danger early following three simple steps.
Exam Padi: A highly intuitive mobile application built to help students stay calm, manage mental health, and take practical action during high-stress exam periods.
These 4 regional champions will now have their projects evaluated by an international panel of judges in the virtual semi-finals. They are competing for a spot among the top 15 teams worldwide who will be invited to the prestigious global Technovation World Summit. Finalists at the summit will pitch their ideas to global tech pioneers and compete for life-changing scholarships to advance their education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects.
“With the rapid pace of technological development, it is more important than ever to ensure young people have the skills and knowledge to thrive in a constantly evolving job market,” Ebere Chiemela – Founder TechRookies. “These girls have proven they are not just passive consumers of technology, but active creators and real-world problem solvers.”
About TechRookies
TechRookies is an EdTech social enterprise dedicated to equipping today’s children with the tech skills, critical thinking, and knowledge they need to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce. By hosting regional tracks of programs like Technovation Girls, TechRookies helps prepare children for a future driven by technological innovation.
About Technovation
Technovation is a global tech education nonprofit that empowers young innovators to become confident leaders and technology entrepreneurs. Operating across more than 100 countries, Technovation’s student-centered learning programs are supported globally by corporate leaders including Google, TE Connectivity, ServiceNow, EY, eBay, AMD, Best Buy, TEKsystems, Oracle, Spectris, Synopsys, and NetApp.
Media Contact:
Organization: TechRookies (Southeast Nigeria Chapter)
Location: Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
Official Website: technovationchallenge.org
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