Zrdc And Icu Award Full Scholarships And K1,000 Cash Prizes To Top Innovators At 2025 Jets Fair In Northwestern Province
The 2025 Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists (JETS) Fair for Northwestern Province concluded with resounding success at Mutanda Boarding School, celebrating three days of innovation, scientific discovery, and youthful brilliance.
Held under the theme “Promoting Innovation, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship: Accelerating STEM Growth and Development,” the fair drew learners from across the province to present innovative projects addressing challenges in agriculture, medicine, engineering, education, and climate resilience.
One of the most exciting highlights of the event was the awarding of nine first-place winners in the senior category and innovation track. Each of these outstanding learners received: K1,000 cash prize, a full scholarship to the Information and Communications University - ICU and admission into the Zambia Research and Development Center - ZRDC Research Community
During the closing ceremony, Mrs. Jessy Nkhata Kapasa of ZRDC reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to long-term impact:
“These awards reflect our belief in consistent excellence. We are proud to sponsor outstanding learners, not just in Northwestern, but across the country. Each regional fair will benefit from this same opportunity - nine top winners per province will receive identical awards.”
She further emphasized that ZRDC’s support will not end with the prizes, noting that mentorship and technical assistance will be provided to help refine and scale the winning innovations.
ICU, on the other hand, is offering scholarships as part of its broader mission to nurture future scientists, engineers, and innovators with industry-relevant, accessible education.
Mr. Patrick Kaonga, Principal Education Standards Officer, encouraged schools to integrate JETS into their learning programs:
“These projects go beyond exhibition. They solve real-life problems. From water purification to infrastructure design, we’ve seen powerful solutions. Schools must invest in these ideas and their potential.”
Students competed across 12 STEM categories, including Civil Engineering, Environmental Sustainability, Computer Science, Robotics, and Agriculture Innovation. Each project demonstrated strong research, creativity, and local relevance.
As the event concluded, ZRDC and ICU emphasized that their support would continue through upcoming regional JETS fairs in other provinces, replicating the scholarship and cash prize model to ensure equal opportunity and national impact.
With mentorship, recognition, and resources now extended to more young innovators, the 2025 JETS Fair series is setting the stage for a new generation of Zambian changemakers ready to transform their communities through science and technology.