Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, has emerged champion of the 2026 Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Science Contest, outshining six other finalists in a grand finale held Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to cap one of the region’s most prestigious student science competitions.

The contest, themed “Powering Tomorrow: Science and Innovative Solutions,” drew participation from 140 secondary schools across Rivers State, with only seven advancing to the final round — a testament to the rigorous standard the competition demands. Borikiri’s victory was credited to the school’s accuracy, composure, and commanding grasp of science concepts across multiple rounds of intense intellectual challenge.

The competition ran across three distinct phases: the Championship, Science Project Exhibition, and Grand Finale, each testing a different dimension of scientific ability.

In the Science Project Exhibition category, a separate battle played out among students tasked with developing practical solutions to real-world scientific and environmental challenges. Government Girls Secondary School Orominieke claimed first place in that category, with Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School taking second and Government Girls Secondary School Finima-Bonny placing third. Eleven of 42 schools had qualified for that stage of the contest.

NLNG’s Message: Science Is an Investment, Not an Event

Speaking at the finale, Sophia Horsfall, General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, framed the contest as far more than a competition.

“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 revealed that the contest had been redesigned to go beyond textbook knowledge, with a strengthened focus on Mathematics, 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, underscoring NLNG’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Nigerian scientists and engineers.

Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr. Peters Nwagor, used the occasion to reaffirm the state government’s commitment to science education, describing it as the bedrock of innovation and national competitiveness.

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

Addressing the student contestants directly, Nwagor offered a broader perspective on their achievement. “Whether or not they emerged winners, they had already distinguished themselves as future scientists, innovators, engineers, researchers, and leaders,” he said.