Catalyst Talent Incubator

Investing in People —
Not Just Skills.

Identifying high-potential African youth in AI, cybersecurity, and emerging tech — bridging raw talent and professional excellence through mentorship, exposure, and placement.

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Programme overview

Developing Africa's next
generation of tech leaders

The Catalyst Talent Incubator identifies high-potential individuals in AI, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering, giving young Africans the mentorship, resources, exposure, and real-world experience needed to accelerate their professional growth and join the global workforce.

01

Expert mentorship

Direct guidance from international technology leaders, researchers, and executive practitioners with proven global track records.

02

Real-world exposure

Project-based learning and hands-on execution embedded within our active corporate partner network and live summit operations.

03

Essential resources

Access to modern infrastructure, compute credits, technical tools, and globally recognised certification tracks.

04

Career launchpad

Top-performing graduates connected directly to employment, internship, and founder opportunities within our enterprise partner network.

iNvent Kids
SheHacks YCN Awards

Programme tracks

iNvent Kids
Ages 9–16 · AI, App Dev, e-Commerce · Project-based cohorts
Kinetic Hub
Young professionals · Emerging tech skills · Industry placement
Nexus Academy
Adult learners · Advanced AI & Cybersecurity · Executive tracks
🤖 RoboQuest Nigeria — NEW
Secondary schools · Robotics & AI competition · National championship
New programme
🤖 Inaugural Edition · Lagos State

RoboQuest Nigeria

A structured, school-based AI and robotics competition designed to ignite STEM curiosity, computational thinking, and innovation among secondary school students across Nigeria. Piloted in Lagos State, the programme will progressively expand to all 36 states and the FCT — culminating in an annual National AI and Robotics Championship.

6
Weeks of engagement
4
Weeks training
2
Weeks build & compete
36
States target
RoboQuest Nigeria — AI and Robotics
🎯

Our Vision

To build Africa's next generation of AI & Robotics engineers and innovators — starting in Nigeria's secondary school classrooms.

🚀

Our Mission

To democratise access to AI, robotics, and STEM education by delivering a structured competition ecosystem that rewards creativity, engineering excellence, and real-world problem solving.

How the programme works

The select → train → build → compete model delivers six weeks of intensive engagement per school.

1

Selection

School registers. Students complete a standardised online aptitude quiz. Top performers (ideally a gender-balanced pair) are selected per school.

2

Training — 4 Weeks

Structured student training in robotics fundamentals, AI concepts, computational thinking, and engineering principles delivered by RoboQuest facilitators.

3

Build — 2 Weeks

Students receive a standardised Problem Statement grounded in Nigerian social challenges across agriculture, health, education, and the environment.

4

Zonal Showcase

Schools compete at zonal level. Top projects advance to the Lagos State Grand Finals for judging by an expert panel.

5

State Finals

State-level competition with awards for students, teachers, and schools — including equipment grants and STEM coordinator credentials.

6

National Championship

Top performers from all states compete at the annual National Robotics Championship — the pinnacle of the RoboQuest competition calendar.

Student selection criteria

Demonstrated interest and curiosity in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics

Minimum 60% average in Mathematics and any Science subject

Written aptitude assessment: logical reasoning and basic science (45 minutes)

Panel interview conducted by RoboQuest facilitator at school or zonal hub

Teacher/principal nomination and endorsement required

Gender balance strongly encouraged — at least 1 female representative per school

Awards & recognition

Outstanding School STEM Coordinator
Cash Prize + Plaque + Catalyst advanced training scholarship
Best New STEM Club Award
Equipment grant of lab materials for the school
Teacher Credential
All completing teachers receive School STEM Coordinator (SSC) credential + commendation letter to principal
National Championship
Top state finalists advance to the annual National AI and Robotics Championship
School registration

Register your school for
RoboQuest Nigeria

Secure your school's place in Nigeria's most exciting robotics and AI competition. Registrations are reviewed on a rolling basis — early applicants receive priority onboarding support from the RoboQuest team.

đź“‹
Simple registration
Complete the form — our team will be in touch within 3 working days
🎒
Onboarding kit
Accepted schools receive a full information and preparation pack
🏆
No cost to register
Registration is free. Programme fees (if any) are communicated post-acceptance

School Registration Form

Register your school's interest in RoboQuest Nigeria 2026. Fields marked * are required.

School information
Supervising teacher
Student 1 *
Student 2 (optional — gender balance encouraged)

Nominate a second student where possible. At least one female representative per school is strongly encouraged.

âś“ Registration received! Our RoboQuest team will contact your school within 3 working days.
For corporate partners

Partner with the Incubator

Partnering with the Catalyst Talent Incubator gives your organisation an active pipeline of pre-vetted, highly trained tech talent while demonstrating real, measurable ESG impact within the African tech ecosystem.

Partners receive first right of refusal on every graduating cohort — a talent pipeline with no equivalent on the continent.

Partner with the incubator

What partner organisations receive

→First right of refusal on all graduating cohort placements
→Co-branded programme recognition and ESG reporting
→Access to real-world project outputs from cohort participants
→Mentorship and speaker visibility at iNvent Kids and RoboQuest events
→Featured in Catalyst partner communications across 16+ countries