Students embrace Tech Innovation as NCTI Launches first Robotics Competition

by Eldonte Samuel

“The future belongs to those who innovate.” That was the declaration of Sunel John, Director of IT Solutions, a local company, who was the feature speaker yesterday, March 27, 2025 at this country’s first Programming Robotics competition held at the Methodist Church Hall and organised by the National Centre for Technological Innovation (NCTI).

From Left: DIRECTOR of IT Solutions – Sunel John
and NCTI’s CEO – Petrus Gumbs

John urged the audience, which included students, educators, and businesses to embrace technology, noting that careers in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Cybersecurity are shaping the future.

“Technology is not just a tool; it is the driving force behind growth and innovation,” he stated, while highlighting the rise of remote work and the need for businesses to adapt to digital advancements.

Quoting General Electric’s former CEO, Jack Welch, “If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near”, John explained how businesses that fail to embrace innovation often become obsolete, reinforcing the need for continuous investments in ICT education.

He reflected on his tech journey, praising the advancements in Information Technology (IT) training, particularly through the NCTI, where he got his first taste of ICT tools.

STUDENTS from the Emmanuel High School receiving feedback from one of the judges

“After a few years, I did other certifications, including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineering training, and came back and contributed to the development of NCTI training under that particular same programme,” John highlighted.

NCTI’s Chief Executive Officer, Petrus Gumbs, a name often associated with tech training, spoke to the audience, the majority of them students, about the lack of an established IT industry in SVG, which puts it years behind other countries that have recognised and taken advantage of this growing field.

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