₦52.5 million national challenge calls on Nigerian innovators at home and abroad to turn bold ideas into working automation, AI, robotics and industrial technologies built for real impact.
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd. has announced the Third Edition of the National Automation Prize (NAP) 2026, an expanded national engineering and technology competition created to discover, develop and showcase practical Nigerian innovations capable of becoming working machines, intelligent systems and commercially relevant technologies.
Building on the first and second editions, NAP 2026 introduces both Individual and Institution Categories and a combined prize package valued at over ₦50 million. The challenge is driven by a clear national call: “Build for Nigeria. Automate for Scale. Compete with the World.”
| “NAP 2026 is built to move innovation beyond ideas. We want to see Nigerian talent produce working prototypes that can solve real problems, attract industry interest and grow into deployable technologies.”— NAP 2026 Organising Committee |
| FROM LOCAL FABRICATION TO SMART, COMPETITIVE MANUFACTURING |
A major focus of NAP 2026 is to move Made-in-Nigeria machines and locally fabricated process plants from manual or partially automated operation into intelligent, efficient and globally competitive systems. Nigeria already has strong fabrication capability across agricultural processing, water treatment, oil and gas packages, marine equipment and production machinery.
NAP 2026 challenges innovators to add the intelligence that transforms fabrication into smart manufacturing — using PLC/HMI/SCADA, smart instrumentation, AI, robotics, IIoT, machine vision, remote monitoring and advanced control to improve productivity, safety, reliability and quality.
| “Nigeria has the talent to build world-class machines and industrial technologies. When we combine local fabrication with automation, AI and intelligent control, Made-in-Nigeria can compete confidently with imported alternatives.”— Engr. Anthony James, Managing Director | |
| NAP 2025 television coverage featuring a participant interview. | NAP 2025 television coverage featuring the Business Development Manager. |
The wider ambition is to turn Nigerian engineering talent into industrial capacity: reducing dependence on imported machinery, conserving foreign exchange, deepening local supply chains, creating skilled jobs and helping Nigerian technology companies build solutions that can serve Africa and the world.
| EIGHT STRATEGIC INNOVATION TRACKS | |
| 1. Smart Automation of Made-in-Nigeria Machines & Process Plants | 2. AI & Robotics for Agriculture and Food Security |
| 3. Intelligent Energy & Smart Power | 4. Industrial Robotics & Autonomous Systems |
| 5. AI for Oil, Gas & Process Industries | 6. Security, Defence & Public Safety Technology |
| 7. Open Engineering Innovation | 8. Made-in-Nigeria Affordable Automation & Industrial Machines |
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? |
The Individual Category is open to Nigerian engineers, technologists, programmers, students, researchers, makers, inventors and technology enthusiasts aged 16 years and above, including Nigerians living outside the country.
The Institution Category is open to eligible universities, polytechnics, research institutes and other higher institutions. Each institution will be represented by a three-member team presenting one project.
Applicants do not need a completed prototype at registration. Shortlisted competitors, however, must develop and present a functional physical prototype at the audition stage. Projects will be assessed on working hardware, real-world impact, engineering quality, local content, innovation, commercial viability, scalability and technical defence.
| ₦20M | ₦10M | ₦52.5M |
| TOP INSTITUTION PACKAGE | INDIVIDUAL WINNER | TOTAL PRIZE PACKAGE |
Under the Institution Category, the winner will receive a ₦20 million package comprising ₦10 million cash and a ₦10 million Ultra-Model Batch Process Training/Demonstration Mini-Plant with training. The first runner-up will receive a ₦10 million mini-plant package, while the second runner-up will receive a ₦5 million PLC/HMI Training and Demonstration Skid with practical training.
In the Individual Category, the winner will receive ₦10 million cash, while the first and second runners-up will receive ₦5 million and ₦2.5 million respectively — giving promising innovators meaningful support to take their solutions further.
| An earlier NAP practical innovation demonstration, reflecting the competition’s hands-on engineering focus. | Guests and stakeholders at the second edition of the National Automation Prize. |
| “This is not simply a competition for the most impressive presentation. We are looking for engineering that works — solutions that can be demonstrated, tested, improved and ultimately taken into the real world.”— NAP 2026 Organising Committee | |
FROM STATE AUDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL GRAND FINALE |
Following registration, successful entrants will progress through State Auditions in October, followed by Regional Competitions in November in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. The competition will culminate in the NAP 2026 National Grand Finale in Lagos in December 2026.
Advanxis is also inviting government institutions, private-sector companies, professional bodies, universities, research institutions, investors and other stakeholders to help move promising innovations beyond the competition through mentorship, judging, prototype support, pilot opportunities, equipment, sponsorship and commercialisation partnerships.
| “The biggest success will be when innovations from this platform become products, businesses, skilled jobs and technologies that Nigeria can manufacture locally and eventually export to the world.”— Engr. Anthony James, Managing Director | |
| A scene from an earlier National Automation Prize edition. | NAP 2025 prize presentation: celebrating practical Nigerian engineering innovation. |
| REGISTRATION CLOSES 10 OCTOBER 2026 Individuals, institutions and prospective partners can learn more at www.advanxis.com/prize3 |
DESIGN LOCALLY • BUILD LOCALLY • AUTOMATE LOCALLY • MANUFACTURE LOCALLY • EXPORT GLOBALLY
| ABOUT ADVANXIS TECHNOLOGIES & PROCESS AUTOMATION LTD. |
Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd. is a Nigerian engineering and industrial technology company providing automation, instrumentation, control systems, engineering services and practical technical training. Through NAP, Advanxis seeks to strengthen indigenous engineering capacity and accelerate practical innovation for a more industrialised and technology-driven Nigerian economy.
MEDIA & PARTNERSHIP ENQUIRIES
Port Harcourt: 22 Trans Amadi Road, Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Lagos: 16 Karimu Katun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
info@advanxis.com • +234 816 005 2942 • www.advanxis.com/prize3
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