2 hours ago
2
By Hayatullah Idris
The Naija Drone Soccer League (NDSL) will select 20 cadet athletes for each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) teams to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The President of NDSL, Sam Gotti, disclosed this on Thursday at the league’s 2026 National Combine for the North-Central Zone, held at Starville School, Jahi II, Abuja.
Gotti said thousands of young athletes had applied to participate in the selection exercise, adding that candidates would undergo screening to identify those with the required aptitude and technical skills.
He explained that the assessment would involve three evaluation metrics, namely an aptitude test, a focus assessment and a complex coordination test.
According to him, candidates would be scored based on their performance, with those obtaining the highest scores selected to represent their respective states and the FCT.
“Once they are selected, they will practise with their various teams and compete competitively.
“We have six conferences within the country, and each conference is based on the geopolitical location,” he said.
Gotti said the initiative was designed to introduce young Nigerians to drone soccer while providing them with practical skills that could prepare them for careers in the aviation and technology sectors.
He explained that participants could develop skills in drone piloting, engineering and maintenance, adding that the programme would provide a pathway to employment in a technology-driven economy.
The NDSL president said the league used the popularity of soccer to attract young people to drone technology and encourage their participation in STEM education.
He said the national league would commence in 2027, with its calendar designed to accommodate the school schedules of participating students, whom the league refers to as cadet athletes.
Gotti added that the selection exercise would extend to other parts of the country, with Gombe serving as the centre for the North-East Conference.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of NDSL, Lt. Coopwood, said drone soccer offered young people an opportunity to develop practical aviation skills while preparing for emerging technological careers.
Coopwood, a former United States Air Force personnel with about 33 years of service, said drone technology had applications beyond military operations, including agriculture, filmmaking and the inspection of structures.
He explained that the league used sports to engage young people and encourage them to pursue further training in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
According to him, participants will learn about drone operations, propeller movements, aviation safety, weather assessment, battery management and decision-making.
“We get them used to flying. They see it as fun, and the next step is to get them into STEM programmes where they can develop these skills further,” he said.
Coopwood said the skills acquired through drone soccer could prepare participants for competitions involving drone construction, piloting and programming, including autonomous drone systems.
One of the participants, Ibrahim Abubakar, a student of Capital Science Academy, said the initiative would provide valuable exposure for young people interested in aviation and piloting.
Abubakar said the programme would help participants acquire basic drone-handling skills before advancing to professional aviation training.
“For those of us who want to venture into piloting or the Air Force, it all starts from here. We need to learn the basic skills and prepare ourselves for the future,” he said.
Another participant, Wunga Gokul, said the programme would provide foundational knowledge for young people aspiring to become pilots.
Gokul said aspiring aviation professionals needed to acquire relevant knowledge and experience before progressing to more advanced training. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
English (US) ·