Tag Archives: African students

AMA, Education, Technology

World Robot Olympiad Expands in Africa, Empowering Youth Through Robotics and Innovation

MaraviPost
56 students were introduced to robotics (including 20 students with special needs), at the Robotics Bootcamp in July 2025, in preparation for the WRO Tanzania national finals on 3 October 2025

Singapore 14 October 2025-/African Media Agency(AMA)/- The World Robot Olympiad™ (WRO), one of the world’s largest robotics competitions, has expanded significantly across Africa. From just 5 countries in 2020, WRO is now active in 14 countries with more than 40,000 young participants in the 2025 season. Over 2,000 teachers have been trained, with strong backing from the likes of Google, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and WRO’s own strategic partners. Together they are equipping young Africans with future-ready skills in coding, engineering, and AI.

Each year, WRO® challenges students worldwide to design and build robots to solve real-world problems. This year’s theme, “The Future of Robots,” has sparked bootcamps and workshops across Africa, introducing robotics to hundreds of students, including those from underserved and special needs communities. National champions will represent their countries at the WRO International Final in Singapore this November, joining teams from more than 90 nations.

Innovation with social impact

African youth typically approach innovation with a strong sense of community, often prioritising social impact over profit to address real-world challenges. Team FutureSight, winners of the National Senior Category Championship in Zimbabwe, developed an AI-powered voice assistant for the blind. Their solution supports visually impaired users with daily tasks and is being adapted to local languages to improve accessibility.

In South Africa, Karabo Rithuri’s journey shows how WRO builds skills, confidence, and community impact that lasts far beyond competitions: She joined a pilot programme at 13, and went on to represent her country at the WRO International Final in Malaysia. The experience gave her confidence and inspired her to give back, so when robotics was discontinued at her school, Karabo set up her own club with support from local sponsors. Today she holds degrees in Finance and IT, serves as a WRO judge, and mentors township students.

“WRO gave me a voice, and now I want to help make things even better for the next generation,” said Karabo Rithuri.

Mr Claus Ditlev Christensen, Secretary General, WRO, said: “WRO’s expansion into Africa is an important milestone in our mission to inspire young people through robotics and STEM. We are proud to see African students not only building technical skills but also developing solutions that address real needs in their communities.”

With Africa’s growing youth population and innovation agenda, WRO provides a vital platform for skills development, international exchange, and community-driven innovation. Initiatives such as WRO Learn and the Future Innovators Project are expanding access to robotics education – empowering young people to collaborate, solve problems, and become tomorrow’s changemakers.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of World Robot Olympiad

For media enquiries and interviews with Karabo Rithuri or Team FutureSight, please contact:

Nurul Rasheed (Ms)

APRW (on behalf of WRO)

Tel: +65 9474 6733

Email:nurul@aprw.asia

Aye Mya Mya Toe (Ms)

APRW (on behalf of WRO)

Tel: +65 9237 4813

Email:mya@aprw.asia

Elzaan Rohde (Ms)

Semaphore Communications 

(on behalf of APRW)

Tel: +27 83 256 1493

Email:elzaan@semaphore.co.za

About the World Robot Olympiad Association

World Robot Olympiad™ Association (WRO®) is a global non-profit that empowers over 100,000 young people across more than 100 countries through hands-on robotics challenges. The competition helps students develop creative problem-solving skills while fostering international collaboration and STEM leadership. Find out more: wro-association.org/.

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Regional

Hundreds of African students starving in Ukraine as evacuation delays

Maravi Post Reporter
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Hundreds of African students are reportedly starving in Ukraine as Russian forces pummel the north-eastern city of Sumy for days now.

The students are nationals of Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia and other countries who are stuck in Ukraine.

Reports say apart from food shortage, there is also no water, compelling the stranded students to drink melted snow.

The situation has also been compounded by non-functioning bank Automated Teller Machines.

An Indian student, Vipin Yadav, who is part of the group trapped in the city, estimates about 1,300 foreign students are still trapped there – including people from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Turkey.

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Mr. Yadav told the BBC that there was nothing to eat for the last four to five days.

Last week, the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments begun the repatriating of their nationals fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

But there are still many of their nationals in the war ravaged Ukraine and neighboring countries who are yet to be evacuated.

More than 1,000 Ghanaian students were living in Ukraine until Russia invaded the country. The West African nation has so far made two repatriation missions.

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Nigeria is expected to evacuate 5,000 citizens who crossed from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries of Romania, Poland and Hungary.

Meanwhile Namibian students who have arrived home from Ukraine following Russia’s invasion will have an option to enroll in local universities.

The country’s education ministry termed it as a second chance to the students, although there was no clarity on how transfer of grades will be done.

The announcement came as some 23 students arrived home on Sunday.

The 17 African countries that declined to deplore Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds