The S.M.A.R.T Challenge is a competition for students to develop and implement sustainable solutions to real-world problems identified by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals Initiative (SDG).

The team carried out a series of innovative experiments involving Queen’s Lyfe bags—a 100 per cent plantable, biodegradable fabric made from rice straws and infused with tomato, pepper and watermelon seeds so that the bags can grow into plants when discarded.

In this round of the competition, a team from the USA came in first and a joint squad consisting of U.S. and Iraqi students took third place overall while Queen of the Rosary College student took second position.

Mr John Onuigbo, their teacher and mentor, led the students in competing against 760 other participants during preliminary rounds; 28 teams remained for the championships where they were named second place winners in high school division.

About nine countries were represented in WAC global finals this year: Nigeria, Ghana, USA, France, Iraq, Turkey, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Morocco.

In reaction to the announcement, the school principal Rev. Sister Maria Nwankwo expressed joy and gratitude to God for this victory.

“We have been putting in the work to provide our students with world-class tech education. This has been evident in the win of our students in global innovation competitions like this and we thank God. We are building students who would make Onitsha their Silicon Valley,” she added.