The World Robot Olympiad (WRO), one of the largest global robotics competitions, is making major strides across Africa — expanding from just five participating countries in 2020 to 14 in 2025, with over 40,000 young Africans now involved in this year’s season.

According to the organisers, the competition has also trained more than 2,000 teachers across the continent, in partnership with Google, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and other global industry collaborators. The goal is to equip young Africans with critical skills in robotics, coding, engineering, and artificial intelligence, preparing them for the rapidly evolving digital economy.

Each year, WRO challenges students to design and build robots that tackle real-world problems. The 2025 theme, “The Future of Robots,” has sparked a surge of bootcamps and innovation workshops across Africa, including outreach to underserved and special needs communities.

National champions from participating countries will represent Africa at the WRO International Final in Singapore this November, joining teams from over 90 nations.

In Zimbabwe, Team FutureSight, winners of the national senior category, developed an AI-powered voice assistant to help blind users navigate daily life, with the innovation being adapted into local languages for greater accessibility.

In South Africa, the story of Karabo Rithuri reflects how the competition is nurturing both technical excellence and leadership. Rithuri joined WRO at 13, represented South Africa at the international finals in Malaysia, and later founded a robotics club after the programme was discontinued at her school. Today, she holds degrees in Finance and IT, serves as a WRO judge, and mentors young students in township communities.

“WRO gave me a voice, and now I want to help make things even better for the next generation,” she said.

WRO Secretary-General, Claus Ditlev Christensen, described the organisation’s expanding presence in Africa as a landmark achievement.

“WRO’s expansion into Africa is an important step in our mission to inspire young people through robotics and STEM. We are proud to see African students not only building technical skills but also developing solutions that address real needs in their communities,” he said.

With Africa’s youth population expected to double by 2050, experts see the Olympiad as a vital platform for fostering innovation, bridging the skills gap, and strengthening international collaboration in science and technology.