The Naija Drone Soccer League (NDSL) has announced the launch of Nigeria’s first ever competitive drone soccer league for senior secondary school students, in a move aimed at promoting the integration of technology, e-sports and education.
The initiative introduces a platform where STEM education meets competitive sport, using drone soccer to equip young Nigerians with future ready skills in aerospace, aeronautics, aviation technology, engineering, robotics, teamwork and strategic thinking.
In a statement issued by the Operations Manager of NDSL, Alex Orkuma, the league was described as an initiative designed to transform classrooms into hubs of innovation while creating an exciting national sports ecosystem for students.
According to the statement, the programme will provide students with hands on exposure to emerging technologies in a structured and competitive environment that encourages creativity, problem solving and leadership.
“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 will feature a nationwide drone soccer competition for senior secondary school students, including the provision of drone soccer kits, training and technical support for participating schools.
The league will also include regional qualifiers leading to a national championship, alongside teacher training and school capacity building programmes aimed at strengthening STEM education.
Organisers said the initiative would further create pathways for students to access global opportunities in drone technology and related fields.
The league has called on senior secondary schools across Nigeria to register for participation in its inaugural season, noting that early participants would benefit from priority onboarding, technical support and national visibility.
The NDSL also appealed to corporate organisations, stakeholders and development partners to support the initiative, stressing that such partnerships would contribute to youth empowerment, STEM education advancement and the growth of Nigeria’s emerging drone and robotics ecosystem.
With Nigeria’s growing youth population, the organisers said the league is expected to become a leading platform for discovering and developing future engineers, innovators and technology leaders.
The Naija Drone Soccer League is Nigeria’s first structured drone soccer competition platform dedicated to combining education, innovation and e-sports through national league competitions and practical STEM learning opportunities.