Education
Nine Students to Battle for Share of N12.5m in InterswitchSPAK 5.0
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nine finalists will compete for their share of N12.5 million worth of scholarships in the 5th edition of the InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition slated to hold on Sunday, January 21, 2024.
The programme, created to inspire interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects among senior secondary school students, is an initiative of Interswitch, Africa’s leading digital payment and commerce company.
It is a key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme of the organisation, and this milestone edition commemorates the fifth anniversary of the competition, symbolizing its steadfast commitment to advancing STEM education across Africa.
From a pool of 81 outstanding students from various secondary schools across Nigeria who have competed head-to-head to showcase their speed, perseverance, accuracy, knowledge and problem-solving skills in STEM subjects, the participants have whittled down to the top nine finalists.
The nine finalists include Best Isijola from Oritamefa Baptist Model School, Oyo State; Ayobami Ibigbami from St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, Lagos State; Emmanuel Omoegbelaghan from The Cresent International School, Ogun State; Emmanuel Angelo-Hyuwa from The Ambassadors College, Ogun State; and Akinola Mofifoluwa from The Ambassadors College, Ogun State.
Others are Jesse Obed from Graceland International School, Rivers State; Abraham Daramola from Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo State; Otana Agunbiade from OAU International School, Ile-Ife, Osun State; and Raphael Ogwanighie from St. Finbarr’s College, Lagos State.
These finalists have exhibited exceptional brilliance across various STEM subjects throughout the highly competitive phases of the show, and they will be vying for the coveted prizes in what promises to be an intense and gratifying grand finale.
The overall winner will be rewarded with a university education scholarship, valued at N7.5 million that spans five years, inclusive of a monthly stipend, a brand-new laptop, and the bragging rights as the best STEM student in Nigeria.
The first runner-up will receive a N4 million university education scholarship spread over three years, including a monthly stipend, and a brand-new laptop, while the second runner-up will be rewarded with a N1 million scholarship spanning an entire year of university education.
Culminating in $6 million worth of prizes over the last 5 years between Nigeria and Kenya, the prizes stand as a testament to Interswitch Group’s dedication to recognizing and rewarding excellence in STEM education.
Speaking on the milestone edition of the InterswitchSPAK competition in Nigeria, the Group Managing Director of Interswitch, Mr Mitchell Elegbe, expressed the company’s delight in witnessing the exceptional performance and dedication of the participating students.
“The InterswitchSPAK initiative is not just a competition but a transformative journey that empowers young minds to envision, pursue and secure a future in STEM, ultimately contributing to innovative initiatives and development in Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” he said.
In the same vein, the Executive Vice President and Group Marketing and Communication Officer of Interswitch Group, Ms Cherry Eromosele, emphasized Interswitch’s pride in witnessing the commendable talent and grit exhibited by the top nine finalists. She highlighted that this stands as a testament to the promising future that STEM education holds for the youth of Africa.
“InterswitchSPAK reaffirms our dedication to nurturing and empowering the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers and it is aimed at bridging the gap in STEM education in Nigeria and across Africa at large,” she remarked.
She further said that the grand finale promises to be a celebration of academic excellence as these young STEM champions compete for the ultimate recognition and life-changing rewards.
In anticipation of the grand finale, the show continues to air on DSTV Africa Magic Family Channel 154 every Sunday at 6:00 pm with a repeat broadcast on Wednesdays at 3:30 pm on the same channel. Alternatively, you can watch the broadcast on AIT Network every Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 61.54 per cent of candidates obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr Amos Dangut, announced the results at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mr Dangut said 1,200,514 candidates met the benchmark for admission to higher institutions, out of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination nationwide, held between April 24 and June 19.
He said 102,708 examiners were engaged in the marking exercise held at 88 marking venues across the country between 2 July and 20 July.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that all the processes leading to the release of results have been completed. It is now my pleasure to announce the release of the results of candidates who sat the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 in Nigeria,” he said, directing candidates to the agency’s portal to access their results.
“UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at waec.org and check your results now on waecdirect.org,” the examination body said, noting that candidates must obtain their Serial Number and PIN before they can check their results.
To generate the required credentials, candidates are expected to visit WAEC’s official website and select the “Serial Number and PIN” option at the top of the page.
They are then required to select the appropriate examination year and diet, enter their examination number and National Identification Number (NIN), and ensure that the NIN provided is the same one used during registration for the examination.
Candidates must also provide their email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
After entering the OTP, candidates can recover their Serial Number and PIN, which they can subsequently use to check their results through WAEC Direct.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, were on July 23, 2026, engaged in practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha.
This engagement was made possible through a collaboration between Breathe Life Foundation and Teach Nigeria Fellow.
Participants were students aged 15–19 years. They were also informed about the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education.
By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
The organisation said it is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes, the Obajana Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has distributed some educational materials to some pupils in Kogi State.
The items shared to the beneficiaries included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, water bottles, and other essential learning aids aimed at enhancing the learning experience of the pupils and preparing them for the next academic session.
The General Manager for the Social Performance Department of Dangote Cement at Obajana Plant, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, said the materials were donated days after Dangote Cement distributed similar education materials to pupils in public schools in its catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata; and commissioned a multi-million-naira hospital in Obajana, which added to the growing list of social investments that includes an earlier hospital project in Iwaa and Oyo Communities.
He noted that, over the years, the company has invested billions of naira in a wide range of social programmes for host communities, including empowerment programmes, road construction, and potable water projects, and it remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining and expanding its interventions.
He noted that the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes are aligned with government development priorities and are implemented through sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships.
“The intervention was informed by findings from a needs assessment conducted by Dangote Cement. During the assessment, it was observed that several pupils attended school without school bags, while others carried their books by hand. It was also discovered that many students lacked essential learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, and other basic learning materials,” the cement firm said.
The Head Teacher of UBE LGEA School, St. Luke Model II, Adankolo, Lokoja Local Government Area, Mr Abubakar Sanni, expressed profound appreciation to the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture.
The Head Teacher expressed gratitude to the Group President of the conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, for extending the company’s educational support programme beyond its host and impacted communities to schools located at the state headquarters.
The beneficiaries, school management, parents, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for the timely intervention and prayed for the continued growth and success of the company in its efforts to improve lives and support sustainable community development.
