The TeensThink competition has crowned its champion, recognizing bright young minds in Africa who showcased innovative projects and ideas that leveraged AI to address pressing social and environmental challenges.
The fifth Annual TeensThink International Essay Competition held in Lagos, uniting teenage intellectuals from across Africa in a powerful celebration of innovation, creativity, and ethical reflection.
Established as a transformative educational platform, the competition welcomed over 100 essay submissions from young thinkers in Nigeria, Liberia, Kenya, and Cameroon. With the 2025 theme, ‘Humanity and Artificial Intelligence: How Can a Blend of the Two Make the World a Better Place — A Teen’s Perspective’, participants were challenged to explore how emerging technologies can serve, rather than overshadow, the human condition.
From the impressive submissions, 16 finalists were shortlisted through a rigorous selection process assessed by respected teachers, educational consultants, and scholars. Judges evaluated the essays for originality, clarity, relevance, depth, and creativity. This is as Opabiyi Josephine from The Federal College of Education Abeokuta, Model Secondary took the first position, Eniola Kananfo, Ota Total Academy came second, while Oghenerugba Akpabor-Okoro from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu came third.
The winners received brand-new laptops, educational books, rechargeable fans, Scrabble games, and cash prizes. Their groundbreaking essays will be published on respected educational platforms to spark broader dialogue on AI and ethics across the continent.
Founder and convener, TeensThink, David Olesin expressed pride in the contestants and reaffirmed the organization’s mission, saying that “TeensThink is deeply committed to preparing teenagers for leadership in a fast-evolving world. Through platforms like this competition, we empower young minds to challenge norms, embrace curiosity, and develop the confidence to drive real-world change—especially in fields like Artificial Intelligence.”
The event’s momentum reached a peak with the unveiling of QuestAIKids, a groundbreaking, free artificial intelligence learning platform. Keynote speaker, an AI educator, innovator, and CEO of Cihan Media Communications, Dr. Celestine Achi stated that the platform aims to democratise AI education, providing free access to premium learning resources for children across Africa.
Achi noted that “Africa’s youth must seize the opportunity to shape the continent’s future with daring ideas powered by empathy and intelligence.”
Chairman of the TeensThink Advisory Committee, Dr. Adeboye Adeyemi, said that “these teens are not waiting for the future, they are actively redefining it. Their ideas, their voices, and their passions are shaping a smarter, more ethical digital Africa.”
With its fifth edition now successfully concluded, TeensThink is expanding its vision. Future plans include partnerships with education ministries, AI incubators, and youth-led initiatives to deliver workshops, innovation labs, and mentorship programmes throughout the year, bridging knowledge and impact across borders.
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