₦airaland Forum

Emeka Ike — announced host of the National Automation Prize 2026
Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd announces renowned Nollywood actor and engineering enthusiast Emeka Ike as the host of the third edition of the National Automation Prize (NAP 2026), a national engineering and technology competition that brings innovation, practical problem-solving and reality television together on one stage.

Under the theme “Build for Nigeria. Automate for Scale. Compete with the World,” NAP 2026 will celebrate Nigerians building solutions for industrial productivity and everyday challenges in manufacturing, energy, agriculture, water, security and public infrastructure.
A new spotlight on Nigerian engineering talent

From hands-on demonstrations and mentoring to high-energy competitive challenges, the programme aims to make engineering innovation accessible and compelling to viewers beyond the technical community. Emeka Ike’s familiar screen presence is expected to help bridge entertainment and engineering, inspiring students, inventors, institutions and the wider public.

“I am an engineer by training, a Nollywood actor by profession and a passionate believer in Nigerian ingenuity. I know what entertainment has done for Nigeria's global reputation, and I believe engineering and technology can do even more for our economic future. The National Automation Prize 2026 is about discovering the minds that will build tomorrow's Nigeria. It is time to put our engineers and Technologists on the biggest stage, celebrate their brilliance and show the world what Nigerian innovation can achieve.”

“We have spent decades celebrating talent in music, film and sports. It is time to give our engineers, inventors and technology creators the same national applause. Innovation deserves the spotlight,” Emeka Ike Said.


“The National Automation Prize 2026 is more than a competition; it is a movement to discover, celebrate and empower Nigeria’s brightest engineering and technology talents. Having Emeka Ike as our host brings a powerful blend of engineering, entertainment and inspiration to our mission of making innovation a national priority.”
-Engr. Anthony James, Managing Director, Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd.

Not just a prize. A new definition of celebrity.

The next breakthrough could come from a student developing a low-cost water-treatment controller, a team automating a factory process, or an independent inventor applying robotics to agriculture. Their work may not begin on a red carpet — but its impact could reach far beyond one.
NAP 2026 plans to bring those stories to a wider audience while connecting innovators to educators, manufacturers, industry leaders and potential partners. Planned television outreach includes Major National Television as well as Cable TV; specific broadcast arrangements remain subject to confirmation.

From early awards to a national ambition

Previous editions in 2024 and 2025 established the initiative’s foundation where Participants are awarded millions of Naira in cash Price for their engineering and Technological ingenuity. The 2026 is promising to be a blockbuster with mouth watering price reward of over ₦50m with individual and Higher Institution categories

The Higher Institution category also include the building of state-of-the-art digitalized equipment as well as training/mentorship for the first three top institutions.
These equipment prizes matter because their value can continue long after the cameras leave — supporting student projects, laboratory teaching and practical exposure to industrial systems.

Why the story matters beyond the stage

For Advanxis, the ambition is not simply to discover one brilliant winner. It is to challenge a broader assumption: that Nigeria must remain primarily a buyer of technology designed elsewhere. The organizers want more young people to see engineering as a route to invention, enterprise and industrial development.

From automation and robotics to artificial intelligence, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and water infrastructure, the country’s most urgent needs can become starting points for practical innovation.

The prize also creates a compelling proposition for universities, polytechnics, research organisations, sponsors and industry partners: help turn promising prototypes into useful systems, and help the people behind them build careers and companies.

A new kind of national hero

A movie star can move an audience. An engineer can move an industry. NAP 2026 is built around the possibility that, together, those two kinds of influence can change what a generation aspires to become.

When Emeka Ike steps onto the NAP stage, the spotlight will not be on celebrity alone. It will be on young Nigerians who can transform an idea into a working system — and perhaps a working system into a solution the nation needs.

The next Nigerian superstar may not be holding a script or a microphone. They may be holding the blueprint to Nigeria’s future.

About the National Automation Prize
The National Automation Prize is an engineering and technology innovation competition organised by Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd. Its third edition seeks to bridge education, innovation and industry for a smarter Nigeria through technical challenges, recognition and practical industrial support.

Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd. has announced the Third Edition of the National Automation Prize (NAP) 2026, an expanded national engineering and technology competition created to identify, develop and showcase practical Nigerian innovations in automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, smart manufacturing and industrial technology.

Building on the first and second editions, NAP 2026 introduces both Individual and Institution Categories and a combined prize package valued at ₦52.5 million. The 2026 challenge is anchored on the message: “Build for Nigeria. Automate for Scale. Compete with the World.”

“Nigeria does not lack talented engineers, innovators or entrepreneurs. What we need is a stronger platform that challenges this talent to convert ideas into working machines, automated processes and commercially viable technologies that solve real Nigerian problems. NAP 2026 is about moving beyond talking about innovation to actually building it.”

— Engr. Anthony James, Managing Director, Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd.

FROM LOCAL FABRICATION TO SMART, COMPETITIVE MANUFACTURING

A major focus of NAP 2026 is the automation and modernisation of Made-in-Nigeria machines and locally fabricated process plants that are currently manual or only partially automated. Nigeria already has growing capability in agricultural processing equipment, water treatment plants, oil and gas process packages, marine equipment, production machinery and other industrial systems.

NAP 2026 challenges innovators to apply PLC/HMI/SCADA systems, smart instrumentation, artificial intelligence, robotics, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), machine vision, remote monitoring and intelligent control to transform local equipment into safer, more productive, reliable and globally competitive systems.

The broader objective is to strengthen Nigeria’s manufacturing base, reduce dependence on imported machinery, conserve foreign exchange, develop local supply chains, create skilled employment and support the emergence of Nigerian technology companies capable of serving African and global markets.

EIGHT STRATEGIC INNOVATION TRACKS
1. Smart Automation of Made-in-Nigeria Machines & Process Plants
2. AI & Robotics for Agriculture and Food Security
3. Intelligent Energy & Smart Power
4. Industrial Robotics & Autonomous Systems
5. AI for Oil, Gas & Process Industries
6. Security, Defence & Public Safety Technology
7. Open Engineering Innovation
8. Made-in-Nigeria Affordable Automation & Industrial Machines

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

The Individual Category is open to Nigerian engineers, technologists, programmers, students, researchers, makers, inventors and technology enthusiasts aged 16 years and above, including Nigerians living outside the country.

The Institution Category is open to eligible universities, polytechnics, research institutes and other higher institutions. Each institution will be represented by a three-member team presenting one project.

Applicants do not need a completed prototype at registration. However, shortlisted competitors will be required to develop and present a functional physical prototype at the audition stage. Projects will be assessed on working hardware and functionality, real-world impact, engineering quality, local content, innovation, commercial viability, scalability and technical defense

₦20M ₦10M ₦52.5M
TOP INSTITUTION PACKAGE INDIVIDUAL WINNER TOTAL PRIZE PACKAGE

Under the Institution Category, the winner will receive a ₦20 million package comprising ₦10 million cash and a ₦10 million Ultra-Model Batch Process Training/Demonstration Mini-Plant with training. The first runner-up will receive a ₦10 million training and demonstration mini-plant package, while the second runner-up will receive a ₦5 million PLC/HMI Training and Demonstration Skid with practical training. In the Individual Category, the winner will receive ₦10 million cash, while the first and second runners-up will receive ₦5 million and ₦2.5 million respectively.

“Every industrial machine or process that we successfully design, automate and manufacture locally represents an opportunity to reduce imports, conserve foreign exchange, develop local supply chains, create skilled jobs and build new Nigerian technology businesses.”

— Engr. Anthony James, Managing Director

FROM STATE AUDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL GRAND FINALE

Following registration, successful entrants will progress through State Auditions in October, followed by Regional Competitions in November in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. The competition will culminate in the NAP 2026 National Grand Finale in Lagos in December 2026.

Advanxis is also inviting government institutions, private-sector companies, professional engineering and technology bodies, universities, research institutions, investors and other innovation stakeholders to participate through technical collaboration, mentorship, judging, industry challenge definition, prototype support, pilot opportunities, equipment and training support, sponsorship and commercialization partnerships.

“No single organization can industrialize Nigeria. Government, industry, universities, professional institutions, investors and technology companies all have a role to play. The ultimate success of NAP will not simply be measured by prize money, but by how many Nigerian innovations become useful products, operating machines, successful businesses and employers of labour.”

— Engr. Anthony James, Managing Director


Individuals, institutions and prospective partners are wwelcome

vislabraye:
Good luck to the lucky candidates. Mobil pays like crazy. Sometimes, I wonder why i didn't go into that line of study.

ReluctantAdult:
Poor reportage. The writer didn't even let us know what automated solutions the winners created.

Samuel Udefia has emerged as the overall winner of the Second Edition of the National Automation Prize 2025, following a prestigious award ceremony held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Vee Hotel, Port Harcourt.

The National Automation Prize, organized by Advanxis Technologies and Process Automation Ltd, is a flagship initiative established to recognize excellence, innovation, and impactful contributions in Automation, control systems, programming and industrial engineering. The event convened leading professionals and stakeholders from across Nigeria’s engineering, industrial, and technology ecosystem.

At the highly anticipated moment of announcement, Mr. Samuel Udefia was visibly shocked as his name was announced as the overall winner, receiving the top cash prize of ₦2.5 million. The second-place winner Mr. Henry Bolu received ₦1 million, while the third-place winner, Mr. Michael Nwosu was awarded ₦500,000, reflecting the organizers’ strong commitment to rewarding excellence and innovation in a tangible way.

The award was formally presented by Engr. Clement, Director of Design at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who highlighted the importance of engineering innovation in driving sustainable national development and industrial competitiveness.

“Engineering innovation remains a critical driver for efficiency, infrastructure development, and economic growth. Recognizing professionals like Samuel Udefia is vital to encouraging innovation and positioning Nigeria competitively in advanced engineering and technology solutions,” Engr. Clement stated.

The ceremony attracted strong institutional and industry presence, including the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), alongside captains of industry, senior engineers, technology leaders, policymakers, academics, and young professionals.

Speaking on the vision behind the award, the event organizer, Advanxis Technologies and Process Automation Ltd, emphasized its broader mission:

“The National Automation Prize was created to celebrate outstanding professionals whose work demonstrates innovation, technical depth, and real-world impact. Beyond recognition, our goal is to inspire continuous learning, mentorship, and industry-driven problem solving within Nigeria’s engineering community and to foster industrialization,” the organizer stated.

Advanxis Technologies and Process Automation Ltd is a leading engineering and technology solutions company specializing in industrial automation, process control, instrumentation, systems integration, and digital transformation for industrial applications. The company is committed to advancing engineering excellence, capacity building, and innovation across Nigeria and the wider African industrial landscape.
Also speaking at the event, Engineer Anthony James, Managing Director, highlighted the growing relevance of automation to national progress:

“Automation is no longer optional—it is fundamental to productivity, safety, and global competitiveness. Platforms like the National Automation Prize help spotlight exceptional talent, foster collaboration, and accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement,” he remarked.

A unique highlight of the event was an interactive practical industrial and engineering question-and-answer session, led by the organizers. Audience members who correctly answered practical engineering and industry-related questions were rewarded with cash prizes amounting to hundreds of thousands of naira, as a form of encouragement and active engagement.

This thoughtful gesture was widely applauded and is expected to motivate youths and young engineers to work harder, deepen their technical competence, and develop greater interest in engineering, automation, and innovation, thereby strengthening the future of Nigeria’s engineering workforce.

In addition to the awards, the event featured a vibrant exhibition and Technical presentation. The evening was further enlivened with entertainment performances, creating a dynamic blend of professional engagement and celebration.

In his acceptance remarks, Samuel Udefia expressed heartfelt appreciation to the organizers and industry leaders, dedicating the recognition to continuous learning, collaboration, and the advancement of automation technologies in Nigeria.

The National Automation Prize continues to gain prominence as a respected national platform for recognizing excellence, encouraging innovation, and fostering collaboration within Nigeria’s automation and engineering community. Organizers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the initiative and delivering even greater impact in future editions.

dhope:
What skills in mechanical design do you prefer?
Piping design, HVAC design, machine design fire-fighting design?

Benwallt:
Iweala is a bloody salary earner