Indigenous technology firm ARCO Worldwide Services Limited has intensified its push into youth-driven aviation and digital innovation by partnering with the Abuja Hackathon 2026, where Nigerian students showcased projects in drone technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and coding.
The two-day competition, held at Baze University under the theme, “Code, Create, Innovate: Building a Smarter Nigeria,” brought together primary and secondary school students to tackle practical technology challenges through drone piloting, robotics design and computational thinking.
The strongest signal from the event was the growing effort by private-sector technology firms to build a pipeline of locally trained aviation and AI talent at an early stage, amid increasing demand for drone operations, surveillance systems and digital intelligence solutions across Nigeria’s economy.
According to the organisers, the hackathon was designed to move students beyond theoretical classroom learning into hands-on problem solving and technical collaboration.
Convener Abba Saidu described the initiative as a platform to equip young Nigerians with practical technology skills relevant to future industries.
ARCO Worldwide, which participated as a technical partner, deployed senior representatives to judge projects across drone, robotics and coding categories while also delivering keynote addresses and supporting the technical structure of the competition.
The company’s Business Relationship Manager, Auwal G Abubakar, said the partnership reflects a broader commitment to developing Nigeria’s next generation of aviation and technology professionals.
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“We are proud to stand alongside initiatives that put young Nigerians at the forefront of aviation innovation,” he said, adding that students “deserve to be seen, supported, and challenged.”
The event also highlights the increasing role of drone education in Nigeria’s evolving technology ecosystem, particularly as sectors including oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure monitoring and security adopt aerial intelligence systems.
ARCO Worldwide is a multi-sector technology company currently providing drone operations, aerial surveillance, infrastructure inspection, precision agriculture and AI-powered analytics services across Nigeria and Africa. The company is noted with approval and authorizations from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The hackathon was organized by Miraisha Foundation Nigeria and Glisten International Academy as part of efforts to expand youth participation in science and technology innovation.
