Four young girls from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have put Nigeria on the global technology map after emerging as finalists in the 2026 Technovation Girls Global Challenge.
The girls, who make up Team Appsolute, will represent Nigeria and Africa at the 2026 Technovation Girls World Summit in Bengaluru, India, in October, where they will battle four other teams for the Beginner Division Global Prize.
The team comprises 11-year-old Akachukwu Blessed Nwachukwu, 11-year-old Ifunanya Gabriella Okoye, nine-year-old Onyinyechi Daniella Okoye and nine-year-old Mmerichukwu Esther Nwachukwu.
They earned their place among the world’s top five Beginner Division teams after competing against more than 12,000 girls from over 130 countries, with over 3,600 artificial intelligence and mobile application projects submitted during the 2026 season.
At the centre of their success is AgeWell, an AI-powered mobile application developed to tackle challenges confronting elderly people, including loneliness, neglect and loss of independence.
The application features an AI-powered fall detection system capable of identifying when an elderly person falls and facilitating access to assistance.
It also enables senior citizens to share their knowledge and skills while creating opportunities to earn income from their experience, helping them remain socially connected and economically active.
The girls’ latest feat comes just one year after Akachukwu and Ifunanya won the 2025 Technovation Girls Beginner Division Grand Prize with StayWoke, an AI-powered application designed to tackle drowsy driving.
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Returning for the 2026 competition, the duo expanded their team by bringing in Onyinyechi and Mmerichukwu, producing a second AI-powered solution with a strong social impact.
According to Technovation Girls, Team Appsolute will face finalists from Canada, Spain, Mexico and Japan in Bengaluru. The Nigerian team is the only African representative in the five-team Beginner Division final.
The qualification marks Team Appsolute’s second consecutive appearance at the global finals and further underscores the growing capacity of Nigerian children to develop technology solutions to real-world problems.
The girls were trained and mentored by Somkenechukwu Chukwudera Mamah, founder of Code Ambassadors Academy, with strong support from their parents, Mrs Treasure Nwachukwu and Mrs Chinenye Okoye.
Reacting to the achievement, Okoye, Director of Creators DigiTech School, said the girls’ consistency demonstrates the value of practical STEM education.
She said the achievement shows that children exposed to project-based learning can move beyond acquiring certificates to becoming creators capable of developing solutions and competing internationally.
Mamah, meanwhile, urged greater investment in technology education for Nigerian children, particularly in coding, artificial intelligence and robotics.
He said Team Appsolute’s journey demonstrates what Nigerian children can achieve when given access to quality training, mentorship and opportunities.
With the global finals ahead, all eyes are now on the four young innovators as they prepare to take AgeWell from Port Harcourt to the world stage.
