The World Robot Olympiad (WRO), one of the world’s largest and most influential robotics competitions, is rapidly expanding across Africa, inspiring a new generation of innovators and problem-solvers. From just five participating countries in 2020, WRO now operates in 14 nations across the continent, engaging more than 40,000 young participants in the 2025 season.
Over 2,000 teachers have been trained to deliver robotics and coding education, with strong support from global partners including Google, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and WRO’s strategic collaborators. Together, they are equipping African youth with future-ready skills in engineering, coding, and artificial intelligence.
Each year, WRO challenges students worldwide to design and build robots that tackle real-world problems. The 2025 theme, “The Future of Robots,” has inspired workshops and bootcamps across Africa, introducing robotics to hundreds of young learners, including those from underserved and special needs communities. National champions from across the continent will represent their countries at the WRO International Final in Singapore this November, joining teams from over 90 nations.
Inspiring Innovation with Social Impact
Across Africa, young innovators are using robotics to address local challenges with creativity and purpose. Many approach technology through a community-focused lens, designing solutions that prioritise social impact over profit.
In Zimbabwe, Team FutureSight, winners of the National Senior Category Championship, created an AI-powered voice assistant for the blind. The solution helps visually impaired users with daily tasks and is being adapted into local languages to improve accessibility.
In South Africa, Karabo Rithuri’s journey showcases how WRO builds skills, confidence, and long-term community impact. She joined a pilot robotics programme at 13 and went on to represent her country at the WRO International Final in Malaysia. The experience inspired her to give back when robotics was discontinued at her school, she founded her own club with help from local sponsors. Today, Karabo holds degrees in Finance and IT, serves as a WRO judge, and mentors township students.
“WRO gave me a voice, and now I want to help make things even better for the next generation,” said Karabo Rithuri.
According to Claus Ditlev Christensen, Secretary General of WRO, said “WRO’s expansion into Africa is an important milestone 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.”
A Platform for Africa’s Next Generation of Innovators
With Africa’s rapidly growing youth population and a strong innovation agenda, WRO’s presence on the continent is timely. Through initiatives such as WRO Learn and the Future Innovators Project, the organisation is expanding access to robotics education empowering young people to collaborate, think critically, and build solutions for the future.
By combining STEM education, creativity, and community-driven innovation, WRO is helping shape the next generation of African changemakers equipping them not just to compete on a global stage, but to lead it.
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