Nigerian software programmer, Olaniran Sikiru, has won a silver medal at the High-Tech Championship Final in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, marking Nigeria’s first-ever participation in the international professional skills competition.
Gatekeepers News reports that Sikiru finished second in the highly specialised Quality Control Specialist for Transport Logistics Processes competency at the championship, which held from September 14 to 18, 2026.
He was accompanied by his expert and mentor, Ojetimi Abdulfatai, who served as the team’s technical expert throughout the competition.
While Sikiru competed as Nigeria’s official representative, he and Abdulfatai worked together to showcase Nigerian talent at the international event.
The achievement marks the first time Nigeria has been represented at the High-Tech Championship, opening a new chapter for the country in international professional skills competitions.
The 2026 championship brought together more than 15,000 participants from 30 foreign countries, alongside representatives from all 89 regions of the Russian Federation.
Competitions were held across 20 high-tech competencies, with participants demonstrating specialised technical and professional skills relevant to emerging industries.
Sikiru’s second-place finish placed him among the leading performers in his discipline at the competition, which focused on technologies and professional skills shaping the future of transportation and logistics.
From Software Programming to Transport Technology
Although Sikiru is a software programmer by profession, he applied his technology background to the specialised competition at the intersection of technology, logistics, quality control and modern transportation systems.
The Quality Control Specialist for Transport Logistics Processes competency focuses on applying professional and technological methods to maintain quality, efficiency and reliability across transport and logistics operations.
Sikiru’s performance, alongside Abdulfatai’s technical support, represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s participation in global high-tech skills competitions.
Their participation is also expected to provide a platform for future Nigerian competitors seeking to represent the country in international professional and technology-based skills championships.
