By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The national pre-qualifying examinations for the eighth season of the prestigious InterswitchSPAK have been concluded.

The exercise kicked off on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and ended on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with over 21,000 students participating, representing a 19.7 per cent increase compared with the over 18,000 registrations recorded in Season 7, underscoring continued nationwide growth and interest in the competition.

The competition is organised by Interswitch, Africa’s leading technology company focused on creating solutions that enable individuals and communities to prosper.

InterswitchSPAK was designed to identify and nurture exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talents at the secondary school level.

The national pre-qualifying examinations marked the first stage of a rigorous selection process designed to identify the brightest young minds in STEM across the country. Successful candidates will progress through subsequent stages of the competition, culminating in a televised grand finale where finalists compete for scholarships and prizes worth over N40 million.

This year’s registration process also introduced an expanded access model, allowing parents and guardians to register their wards directly, alongside the traditional school-based registration approach. This enhancement contributed to broader participation and reinforced Interswitch’s commitment to creating inclusive access to educational opportunities for talented students nationwide.

Over the past seven seasons, InterswitchSPAK has continued to deliver impact through scholarships, mentorship, and national recognition for outstanding students, while consistently promoting educational equity and excellence in STEM education.

The overall winner of Season 8 will receive a N15 million tertiary scholarship, including monthly stipends. The first runner-up will receive a N10 million scholarship, inclusive of monthly stipends, while the second runner-up will be awarded a N5 million scholarship, also including monthly stipends. All scholarships are payable over five years. In addition, all nine finalists will receive brand-new laptops and other exciting prizes.

Beyond the top prizes, Season 8 introduces enhanced rewards for finalists placed 4th to 9th, alongside increased recognition for the teachers of students who finish in the top nine. The expanded reward structure further underscores Interswitch’s commitment to celebrating academic excellence and recognising the vital role educators play in nurturing future STEM leaders.

Commenting on the continued growth and participation in the initiative, the Executive Vice President for Group Marketing and Communications at Interswitch, Ms Cherry Eromosele, said, “The remarkable increase in registrations for Season 8 reflects the growing enthusiasm among young Nigerians for STEM education and innovation. We are encouraged by the confidence students, parents, teachers, and schools continue to place in InterswitchSPAK as a platform for academic excellence and opportunity.”

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

About N50 million has been disbursed to 100 students enjoying tertiary education scholarship from Airtel Africa Foundation.

Each of the recipients was given N500,000 in their first year of the four-to-five-year academic programmes under the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship Programme.

Airtel Africa Foundation came up with this initiative to support high-performing but financially disadvantaged 100-level students studying technology-related courses in public universities.

The funding package covers tuition, accommodation, stipends, and other essential materials such as laptop computers.

In a statement from the organisation, it was disclosed that the Airtel fellows were selected through an independent process from accredited public universities across Nigeria and are enrolled in courses, including Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), among others.

Participating institutions in the first batch of the scholarship scheme are the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED).

“We are not just funding education; we are building a pipeline of skilled innovators who will contribute meaningfully to Africa’s digital economy.

“The transparency of this process and the full delivery of our commitment to these 100 scholars are matters of great pride for the Foundation,” the chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, said.

Also speaking on the progress, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, noted that the initiative reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to empowering the youth through education and digital inclusion.

“At Airtel Nigeria, we believe that the future of our country lies in the hands of our youth. This N50 million disbursement is proof that when we say we are committed to empowering young Nigerians, we mean it fully and transparently. I congratulate every scholar and encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. Your success is our success.”

The Airtel Fellowship Tech Fellowship forms part of the foundation’s efforts to equip African youth with advanced digital and technical skills, within its broader F.E.E.D agenda which focuses on Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental protection and Digital Inclusion. Beyond financial support, the initiative is designed to equip beneficiaries with the skills, mentorship, and exposure required to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Graduation and end-of-session parties have been banned in public and private schools in Ogun State by the state government.

In a circular signed by the Director of Education (Private Schools), on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, A.A. Bisiriyu, it was emphasised schools must adhere to this directive.

“No school owner should organise such gatherings henceforth,” the state government emphasised in the disclosure, warning that appropriate sanctions await defaulters.

It was gathered that this step was taken following allegations that some schools were extorting parents for such ceremonies.

According to the statement, such actions are contrary to resolutions reached during the 2025/2026 pre-resumption stakeholders’ meeting held in September 2025 at Lisabi Grammar School Hall, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The circulated noted, “It is pertinent to state that the state government frowns at organising graduation and end-of-session parties [for pupils and students] in all classes in both public and private schools in the state.”