{"id":1304,"date":"2026-10-26T08:02:41","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T08:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/26\/nollywood-legend-emeka-ike-to-host-the-national-automation-prize-nap-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T08:02:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T08:02:41","slug":"nollywood-legend-emeka-ike-to-host-the-national-automation-prize-nap-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/26\/nollywood-legend-emeka-ike-to-host-the-national-automation-prize-nap-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Nollywood Legend Emeka Ike To Host The National Automation Prize Nap 2026\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Emeka<\/p>\n

-With Over \u20a650m All For Grabs In One Of Nigeria\u2019 Biggest Engineering & Technological Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Celebrated screen personality brings star power to a national showcase of engineering, automation, artificial intelligence and robotics.<\/p>\n

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Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd announces renowned Nollywood actor and engineering enthusiast Emeka Ike as the host of the third edition of the National Automation Prize (NAP 2026), a national engineering and technology competition that brings innovation, practical problem-solving and reality television together on one stage.<\/p>\n

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Under the theme \u201cBuild for Nigeria. Automate for Scale. Compete with the World,\u201d NAP 2026 will celebrate Nigerians building solutions for industrial productivity and everyday challenges in manufacturing, energy, agriculture, water, security and public infrastructure.<\/p>\n

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A new spotlight on Nigerian engineering talent<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From hands-on demonstrations and mentoring to high-energy competitive challenges, the programme aims to make engineering innovation accessible and compelling to viewers beyond the technical community. Emeka Ike\u2019s familiar screen presence is expected to help bridge entertainment and engineering, inspiring students, inventors, institutions and the wider public.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI am an engineer by training, a Nollywood actor by profession and a passionate believer in Nigerian ingenuity. I know what entertainment has done for Nigeria\u2019s global reputation, and I believe engineering and technology can do even more for our economic future. The National Automation Prize 2026 is about discovering the minds that will build tomorrow\u2019s Nigeria. It is time to put our engineers and Technologists on the biggest stage, celebrate their brilliance and show the world what Nigerian innovation can achieve.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have spent decades celebrating talent in music, film and sports. It is time to give our engineers, inventors and technology creators the same national applause. Innovation deserves the spotlight,\u201d<\/strong> Emeka Ike Said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The First Edition NAP 2024 demonstration shows how practical engineering can be made visible and engaging<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe National Automation Prize 2026 is more than a competition; it is a movement to discover, celebrate and empower Nigeria\u2019s brightest engineering and technology talents. Having Emeka Ike as our host brings a powerful blend of engineering, entertainment and inspiration to our mission of making innovation a national priority.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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-Engr. Anthony James, Managing Director, Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Not just a prize. A new definition of celebrity.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The next breakthrough could come from a student developing a low-cost water-treatment controller, a team automating a factory process, or an independent inventor applying robotics to agriculture. Their work may not begin on a red carpet \u2014 but its impact could reach far beyond one.<\/p>\n

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NAP 2026 plans to bring those stories to a wider audience while connecting innovators to educators, manufacturers, industry leaders and potential partners. Planned television outreach includes Major National Television as well as Cable TV; specific broadcast arrangements remain subject to confirmation.<\/p>\n

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2<\/strong>and<\/sup><\/strong> Edition NAP 2025 award presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n

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From early awards to a national ambition<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Previous editions in 2024 and 2025 established the initiative\u2019s foundation where Participants are awarded millions of Naira in cash Price for their engineering and Technological ingenuity. The 2026 is promising to be a blockbuster with mouth watering price reward of over \u20a650m with individual and Higher Institution categories<\/p>\n

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A prize presentation from a first edition of the National Automation Prize in 2024.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Higher Institution category also include the building of state-of-the-art digitalized equipment as well as training\/mentorship for the first three top institutions.<\/p>\n

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These equipment prizes matter because their value can continue long after the cameras leave \u2014 supporting student projects, laboratory teaching and practical exposure to industrial systems.<\/p>\n

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second runner-up Michael Nwuzu featured in broadcast coverage<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Why the story matters beyond the stage<\/strong><\/h1>\n

For Advanxis, the ambition is not simply to discover one brilliant winner. It is to challenge a broader assumption: that Nigeria must remain primarily a buyer of technology designed elsewhere. The organisers want more young people to see engineering as a route to invention, enterprise and industrial development.<\/p>\n

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From automation and robotics to artificial intelligence, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and water infrastructure, the country\u2019s most urgent needs can become starting points for practical innovation.<\/p>\n

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Advanxis representative speaking to the media at a NAP event<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The prize also creates a compelling proposition for universities, polytechnics, research organisations, sponsors and industry partners: help turn promising prototypes into useful systems, and help the people behind them build careers and companies.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n

NAP 2025 winner Samuel Udofia speaking during the televised event<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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A new kind of national hero<\/strong><\/h1>\n

A movie star can move an audience. An engineer can move an industry. NAP 2026 is built around the possibility that, together, those two kinds of influence can change what a generation aspires to become.<\/p>\n

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When Emeka Ike steps onto the NAP stage, the spotlight will not be on celebrity alone. It will be on young Nigerians who can transform an idea into a working system \u2014 and perhaps a working system into a solution the nation needs.<\/p>\n

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The next Nigerian superstar may not be holding a script or a microphone. They may be holding the blueprint to Nigeria\u2019s future.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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About the National Automation Prize<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The National Automation Prize is an engineering and technology innovation competition organised by Advanxis Technologies & Process Automation Ltd. Its third edition seeks to bridge education, innovation and industry for a smarter Nigeria through technical challenges, recognition and practical industrial support.<\/p>\n

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For more Information, participation and Partnership visit www.advanxis.com\/prize3<\/p>\n

MEDIA & PARTNERSHIP ENQUIRIES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lagos: 16 Karimu Katun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Port Harcourt: 22 Trans Amadi Road, Trans Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
info@advanxis.com\u00a0<\/a> \u2022\u00a0 +234 816 005 2942\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0 www.advanxis.com\/prize3<\/a><\/p>\n

The post Nollywood Legend Emeka Ike To Host The National Automation Prize Nap 2026\u00a0<\/a> appeared first on Vanguard News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source: <\/p>\n

Vanguard News<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

-With Over \u20a650m All For Grabs In One Of Nigeria\u2019 Biggest Engineering & Technological Competition Celebrated screen personality brings star power to a national showcase of engineering, automation, artificial intelligence… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1304\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}