In a bid to celebrate youth intellect and innovation, the 5th Annual TeensThink International Essay Competition has championed the voices of African teenagers, empowering them to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and humanity.
Under the 2025 theme, “Humanity and Artificial Intelligence: How Can a Blend of the Two Make the World a Better Place, A Teen’s Perspective”, over 100 young intellectuals from Nigeria, Liberia, Kenya, and Cameroon submitted essays examining how technology can be harnessed to uplift rather than overshadow human values.
From this pool, 16 finalists emerged through a selection process overseen by teachers, scholars, and educational consultants. Essays were evaluated on originality, clarity, relevance, depth, and creativity, with the top three earning distinguished honours.
Opabiyi Josephine, from Federal College of Education Abeokuta, Model Secondary School, won th competition with 82 points, Eniola Kananfo of Ota Total Academy, Ota came second with 81 points and Oghenerugba Akpabor-Okoro from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu was third with 80 points.
The winners received laptops, books, cash prizes, and other educational resources, with their essays set to be published across notable platforms to inspire conversations on ethics and innovation in AI.
Representing Founder, TeensThink, Kehinde Olesin; David Olesin, emphasised the initiative’s long-term goal of preparing teenagers for leadership in a fast-evolving world.
A highlight of the event was the official unveiling of QuestAIKids, a new free AI learning platform designed for children across Africa. Launched by keynote speaker, AI expert and CEO of Cihan Media Communications, Dr. Celestine Achi, the platform aims to provide inclusive, premium-level AI education at zero cost.
“The people who change the world are the ones who dare to ask. Africa’s youth must seize the opportunity to shape the continent’s future with daring ideas powered by empathy and intelligence,” Dr. Achi said.
