NDSL Launches Nigeria’s First Drone League For Secondary School Students

By Gbodiyan Oluwakemi Karen, Abuja

The Naija Drone Soccer League (NDSL) has announced the launch of Nigeria’s first competitive drone soccer league for senior secondary school students, aimed at promoting STEM education, innovation and e-sports development in the country.

In a press statement issued by the Operations Manager of the league, Alex Orkuma, the initiative was described as a major step toward integrating technology, education and sports to equip young Nigerians with future-ready skills.

According to the statement, the league will expose students to practical knowledge in aerospace, aeronautics, aviation technology, engineering, robotics, teamwork and strategic thinking through structured drone-soccer competitions.

The organisers stated that the initiative seeks to transform classrooms into centres of innovation while creating a national sports ecosystem for students.

“Drone-soccer is more than a sport; it is a training ground for the future. Through this league, we are building a generation of innovators who will shape Nigeria’s future in technology, aviation and engineering,” the statement said.

The NDSL noted that participating schools would receive drone-soccer kits, training and technical support, while regional qualifiers would lead to a national championship.

It added that the programme would also include teacher and school capacity-building initiatives to strengthen STEM education and expose students to opportunities in global drone technology and innovation.

The league called on senior secondary schools across Nigeria to register for the inaugural season, noting that early participants would benefit from priority onboarding, technical support and national visibility.

The statement further invited corporate organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to support the initiative through sponsorships and partnerships aimed at advancing youth empowerment and the country’s emerging drone and robotics ecosystem.