Education
SPAK National Science Competition Releases Names of 81 Finalists
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Organisers of the 2017 Spak National Science Competition have released names of 81 finalists with the highest scores out of those who wrote the qualifying examination.
These finalists would be invited to participate at this stage of the competition, which would be recorded and transmitted on TV/ Social media across Nigeria and Africa.
The SPAK competition was designed basically for senior secondary school students in charting the ideal career path and driving them towards full optimization of their potentials and the fulfilment of their dreams.
SPAK is an annual competition used in encouraging the study of science and promoting the various opportunities for sound science education for the Nigerian science student.
The names of the successful 81 students are:
State Candidate Name School Registration No Candidate Score Qualification Status
Oyo IDOWU TOLUWANIMI KINGS INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE 110140147 93 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Lagos OLUYEDE QOYUUM AS SOBRU PRIVATE SCHOOLS 110280283 92 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Lagos ADESHOLA FADAHUNSI ST MICHAELS ALABSTAR COLLEGE 110280211 92 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo AKINWANDE FASHOLA ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE ALESHINLOYE 110130088 92 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo CHISOM BENJAMIN CHIBUEZE DORITY INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110250033 85 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo OLUWATOBILOBA AKINGBULUGBE HALLMARK SECONDARY SCHOOL, ONDO 110080089 84 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Abuja ABDULMUEEZ YUSUF NIGERIAN TULIP INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE ABUJA BOYS BOARDING 110160088 83 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun OLUWANIFISE ONAFOWOKAN THE AMBASSADORS COLLEGE 110050183 83 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo EVANS OWAMOYO GREATER TOMORROW INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE ARIGIDI AKOKO 110090022 82 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun DEBORAH AGBOOLA THE AMBASSADORS COLLEGE 110050186 82 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Akwa Ibom CHIDINMA ONYEKPE TOPFAITH INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110190023 82 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun SALAMI HABEEB ADEDOKUN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS OTA 110050084 82 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara FAVOUR OKIKIOLA MOSHOOD EUCHARISTIC HEART OF JESUS MODEL COLLEGE 110030262 82 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Edo OKAFOR KINGSLEY LUMEN CHRISTI INT’L HIGH SCHOOL 110010016 81 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun TEMILOLUWA IGE THE AMBASSADORS COLLEGE 110050185 81 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo AYANBISI ENOCH FRUIT OF LOVE SCHOOLS 110140123 81 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun FAVOUR ADEOYE ABEOKUTA GRAMMAR SCHOOL 110060222 81 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo AYOMIDE FANIBI GREATER TOMORROW INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE ARIGIDI AKOKO 110090019 80 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun OLUWATOSIN AJIBOLA TAIDOB COLLEGE 110060137 80 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Edo OPARA CLINTON LUMEN CHRISTI INT’L HIGH SCHOOL 110010015 80 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo SAMUEL AMOKO HALLMARK SECONDARY SCHOOL, ONDO 110080088 80 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo MAXINE NWOSU DORITY INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110250034 80 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo DANIEL JESUGOROYE HALLMARK SECONDARY SCHOOL, ONDO 110080087 79 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun AYOBAMI AHMED SCHOLARS UNIVERSAL SECONDARY SCHOOL OTA 110050021 79 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo CHIBUZO CHIWIKE DORITY INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110250032 79 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo JOHN BOYINBODE GREATER TOMORROW INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE ARIGIDI AKOKO 110090023 79 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Enugu IKEONYIA JOHNSON COLLEGE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ENUGU 110200067 78 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo NKOM ELIZABETH METHODIST HIGH SCHOOL,OKITIPUPA 110100018 78 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo OLUWATIMILEYIN OGUNDELE ORITAMEFA BAPTIST MODEL SCHOOL RINGROAD IBADAN 110140135 78 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo CHIKA JINANWA DORITY INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110250035 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo ABIOLA DAVID OLUWADAMILOLA SMITH INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST ACADEMY, OGBOMOSO 110140053 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara ABDULQUDUS YAHAYA UNILORIN SECONDARY SCHOOL 110030074 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun AMINU ABDULSALAM THE AMBASSADORS COLLEGE 110050181 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Lagos CHRISTIAN ENYIA BESTGIFT COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE 110280228 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo TAIWO GBADAMOSI ORITAMEFA BAPTIST MODEL SCHOOL RINGROAD IBADAN 110140133 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo KEHINDE GBADAMOSI ORITAMEFA BAPTIST MODEL SCHOOL RINGROAD IBADAN 110140134 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara OLAJIDE ENOCH LUSS OMU ARAN 110030050 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun ARAGBADA ARAMIDE IGANMODE GRAMMAR SCHOOL SNR 110050049 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun BABATUNDE AHMED SCHOLARS UNIVERSAL SECONDARY SCHOOL OTA 110050019 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Enugu UZODIMMA SOMTOCHUKWU COLLEGE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ENUGU 110200068 77 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun ADEYEMI JUSTICE LIFE MOULDERS COLLEGE 110060002 76 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Akwa Ibom EDIOMO TOBBY DIVINE SEEDS HIGH SCHOOL 110190053 76 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Edo ODOGUN EMMANUEL LUMEN CHRISTI INT’L HIGH SCHOOL 110010013 76 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Rivers EZEANUBA OLISAKWE BISHOP OKOYE SPIRITAN SECONDARY SCHOOL 110170122 76 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Abuja DONALD OKONKWO NIGERIAN TULIP INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE ABUJA BOYS BOARDING 110160090 76 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun SOLOMON AJISAFE SCHOLARS UNIVERSAL SECONDARY SCHOOL OTA 110050020 76 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara OLARINOYE TEMILOLUWA AYOBAMI CHAPEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110030168 76 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ekiti ADEWUYI KEHINDE OYINDAMOLA PETOA CITY COLLEGE 110020001 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun AYANBADEJO OLUWAFEMI IJEBU ODE GRAMMAR SCHOOL SENIOR 110070008 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Edo PRECIOUS O A MOGBOGUA UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY SECONDARY SCOOL 110010113 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun SIMILOLUWA ODUMUYIWA SCHOLARS UNIVERSAL SECONDARY SCHOOL OTA 110050024 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Niger GBODI JOSHUA FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY SULEJA NIGER STATE 110260032 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara JIMOH ABDULRAHMAN FLORA COLLEGE 110030030 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun FOLAKUNMI KAZEEM-SALISU THE AMBASSADORS COLLEGE 110050184 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ekiti AKINOLA MERCY OLAYEMI PETOA CITY COLLEGE 110020006 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun OLUWAGBOHUNMI OSADOLA THE AMBASSADORS COLLEGE 110050182 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Abuja PLANGDI NEPLE BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL JOS 110160126 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun OGUNTADE ABASS IDEAL COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE 110060025 75 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo TREASURE TEMIDAYO OGUNDIRAN ORITAMEFA BAPTIST MODEL SCHOOL TOTAL GARDEN IBADAN 110130031 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo CLARA NNANYERE RAY JACOBS BOARDING SCHOOL MGBIDI 110250130 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo FARAYOLA JOSHUA OLATUNDE SMITH INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST ACADEMY, OGBOMOSO 110140050 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Lagos DESTYNA AMAKWE MARYWOOD GIRLS COLLEGE 110040077 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun ODUWOLE TIMILEHIN SPCC IMEKO AFON 110060151 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Enugu OLIVER EZE SHALOM ACADEMY OBOLLO AFOR 110200137 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Lagos MUSA MAYOWA BRAINFIELD COLLEGE MEIRAN 110270168 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo PASCHAL NWABUEZE RAY JACOBS BOARDING SCHOOL MGBIDI 110250132 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara DR ADESIJI TEMIDIRE FLORA COLLEGE 110030029 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo MIRACLE KELECHI AGAZIE GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL AKWAKUMA 110250038 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo ABELEJE TOLULOPE CITADEL INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE 110090010 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Oyo OREOLUWA ADEKUNLE ALL SOULS’ HIGH SCHOOLS 110130164 74 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ogun OLUWAGBEMISOLA AKINJOBI ABEOKUTA GRAMMAR SCHOOL 110060219 73 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Imo PRINCESS AWOSLEY ROYAL ROCK ACADEMY 110250223 73 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara ABDULQUADRI AMINULLAH UNILORIN SECONDARY SCHOOL 110030075 73 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Ondo OMOWUNMI AKINJOLIRE HALLMARK SECONDARY SCHOOL, ONDO 110080084 73 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Niger IBEH IKECHUKWU FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY SULEJA NIGER STATE 110260036 73 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kwara AROSANYIN GODFREDA OREOLUWA CHAPEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110030167 73 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Lagos OYINKANSOLA AJIBOLA MARYWOOD GIRLS COLLEGE 110040078 73 Qualified Top ( 81 )
Kaduna JOSEPH JUDE EXCEL MODERN INTEGRATED SCHOOLS 110240245 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Abuja DANIEL YAKUBU BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL JOS 110160124 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Niger HAROUN FAROUK FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY SULEJA NIGER STATE 110260035 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Akwa Ibom FRANCIS MBONU TOPFAITH INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL 110190022 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Ogun EMMANUEL NWAFOR SCHOLARS UNIVERSAL SECONDARY SCHOOL OTA 110050022 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Edo ESHILAMA DONALD LUMEN CHRISTI INT’L HIGH SCHOOL 110010018 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Osun SAMUEL ADELAJA BIBO OLUWA ACADEMY 110290018 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Enugu OKOLO OBIAJULU COLLEGE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ENUGU 110200071 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Delta MIRACLE OMOJIANA DEBRIDE MODEL SCHOOLS 110210112 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Osun TIMOTHY OGUNDIPE DEEPER LIFE HIGH SCHOOL OSHOGBO 110290024 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Ogun ISAAC OLOWU TAIDOB COLLEGE 110060135 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Edo OGHENEKEVWE AGBADUDU UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY SECONDARY SCOOL 110010112 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Kano SHUAIBU ABDULLAHI NIGERIAN TULIP INTERNATIONAL COLLEGES YOBE BOYS 110230263 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Kaduna FRANK CHINYERE TRINITY COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL 110240066 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Ondo AKINMEJI PEACE DOMINION SCIENCE ACADEMY IJEBU OWO 110080039 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Rivers EZINNE ENWEREUZOR BISHOP OKOYE SPIRITAN SECONDARY SCHOOL 110170124 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Enugu CHIDOZIE ABUGU ST FRANCIS SECONDARY SCHOOL OVOKO 110200065 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Anambra NJOKU ISRAEL CHINAEMEZUNKWAYA THE GOOD SHEPHERD SENIOR SCHOOL NNEWI 110180371 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
Rivers UGOCHUKWU ODIKA FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGE ODI 110170040 72 Shortlisted Top ( 81 )
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A student of Adedokun International Schools, Ota, Ogun State, Saint Riman, has emerged as the overall winner of the InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition.
The 16-year-old student was crowned Nigeria’s Best STEM Student, receiving a N15 million scholarship in the InterswitchSPAK 7.0 grand finale.
InterswitchSPAK is the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies.
The programme is Nigeria’s largest STEM competition for senior secondary school students. It concluded on a high note after months of nationwide assessments, problem-solving challenges, and competitive stages involving over 18,000 registered participants.
Business Post reports that David Okorie of Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos State, was the first runner-up, getting N10 million in scholarship, while David Solomonezemma of Deeper Life High School, Enugu State, was the second runner-up, bagging a N5 million scholarship. All winners also received brand-new laptops in addition to other exciting prizes.
While presenting the awards, the Group Marketing and Communications for Interswitch, Ms Cherry Eromosele, commended the students for their discipline, resilience, and exceptional intellectual performance.
“InterswitchSPAK was created to inspire and reward excellence in STEM education while equipping young Africans with the skills to tackle real-world challenges.
“These winners have demonstrated remarkable promise, and by supporting their education, we are reaffirming our belief in the power of young people to shape Africa’s future through innovation and science,” Ms Eromosele said.
Beyond the top three winners, other finalists received brand new laptops and exciting cash rewards for outstanding performance, alongside their teachers who were also celebrated and rewarded for their critical role in nurturing talent. This holistic approach reinforces Interswitch’s commitment to sustainable educational development through collaboration between students, educators, and institutions.
Now in its seventh year, InterswitchSPAK has become a highly respected platform, serving as a pipeline for discovering, developing, and empowering the next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists, and innovators. Through this initiative, Interswitch continues to highlight how strategic private sector investment in education can drive innovation, reward merit, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The successful conclusion of InterswitchSPAK 7.0 underscores Interswitch’s leadership in advancing STEM education as a catalyst for socio-economic growth, preparing Nigerian students to compete confidently on the global stage while shaping Africa’s innovation-driven future.
By Dipo Olowookere
A Zurich-based anti-chatbot edtech firm, Sparkli, has secured about $5 million pre-seed round for its generative learning engine designed to turn screen time into active learning expeditions that foster agency, curiosity, and future-ready skills.
The pre-seed round will allow Sparkli to scale its generative learning engine and prepare for a private beta launch in January 2026. The company is currently validating its platform through a strategic pilot with one of the world’s largest private school groups.
This partnership provides Sparkli with a powerful testing ground across a network of more than 100 schools and over 100,000 students.
Sparkli transforms the curiosities of children into multi-disciplinary, real-life journeys that foster future-ready skills, including technology, design thinking, sustainability, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and global awareness.
The company is already positioning itself to disrupt the $7 trillion global education market, a sector widely predicted to be one of the most significant use cases for artificial intelligence.
Its approach is shaped by three shifts essential for modern childhood education, a strategy designed to solve the ‘Agency and Curiosity Gap’. First, it forces a Velocity Shift by moving away from static curriculums to real-time relevance where children explore new topics the moment they emerge.
Second, it drives an Engagement Shift by replacing the dry ‘AI chatbot wall of text’ and passive screen time (watching videos, playing video games) with a multimodal playground of visuals, voice, and playable simulations. This turns consumption into active, gamified inquiry rooted in educational value.
Finally, Sparkli prioritizes a Skills Shift that focuses on capabilities such as creativity and complex problem solving rather than memorization.
“Our goal is to build agency in the next generation. Children learn by exploring, making choices, asking questions, and discovering what inspires them. Sparkli turns screen time into a place where curiosity grows rather than fades,” the chief executive of Sparkli, Mr Lax Poojary, said.
One of the funders, Lukas Weder of Founderful, said, “Sparkli represents a step change in how children can interact with knowledge.
“The team is applying high caliber engineering and thoughtful pedagogy to a space that desperately needs innovation. Their traction with schools shows a real appetite for tools that foster curiosity and agency rather than passive consumption.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed N161.97 billion to 864,798 students nationwide since the inauguration of its student loan portal on July 17, 2024, as part of efforts to expand access to tertiary education.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, while briefing journalists on the progress, impact and challenges of the scheme under the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, said it was established to ensure that no Nigerian student was denied education because of financial constraints.
According to him, the fund has so far received 1,361,011 loan applications from students across the country.
He explained that out of the N161.97 billion disbursed, N89.94 billion was paid directly to 263 tertiary institutions to cover tuition and institutional charges, while N72.03 billion was paid to students as upkeep allowances.
“As at today, 1,361,011 applications have been received, 864,798 students have so far benefited from the loan scheme, and total disbursement stands at N161.97 billion.
“These includes N89.94 billion paid directly to 263 tertiary institutions for tuition and institutional fees, and N72.03 billion paid directly to students as upkeep allowances,” he said.
He noted that the figures represented tangible impact on students and families, describing them as evidence of barriers being removed and opportunities being created.
The NELFUND boss said the agency, had over the last year, embarked on extensive sensitisation across tertiary institutions to improve awareness and access to the scheme.
He added that the focus would now expand to parents, guardians, traditional rulers and faith-based institutions.
He said this new approach was to deepen public understanding and trust in the scheme.
“Over the last year, NELFUND has undertaken extensive sensitisation and engagement across tertiary institutions nationwide.
“We have worked directly with students, school authorities, and stakeholders to drive awareness, understanding, and access to the scheme.
“However, as we move into this new phase, we recognise that deepening impact requires broader engagement.
“So this year, our focus will expand to another very important group within the NELFUND ecosystem,” he said.
On upkeep payments, the managing director disclosed that a reconciliation exercise carried out after the 2024/2025 academic session revealed that 11,685 students had outstanding upkeep payments amounting to N927.98 million.
He clarified that the outstanding payments were not due to withheld funds or policy failure, but resulted from technical and operational issues.
He said such issues include network downtime, failed transactions and unvalidated bank account details.
He also said that the NELFUND management had approved a one-time reconciliation process to resolve the cases, including direct engagement with affected students.
He further said that a grace period for updating bank details, multi-layer validation and prompt payment upon verification had also been approved.
Responding to questions on sustainability, Mr Sawyerr said that the amended student loan law removal of guarantor requirements, inclusion of upkeep allowances and the ability to raise and invest funds were key elements supporting long-term sustainability.
He added that NELFUND was also exploring partnerships with philanthropists, corporate organisations and government agencies, citing a N20 billion collaboration with the Ministry of Education on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as an example.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Operations, NELFUND, Mr Mustapha Iyal, said that outstanding upkeep represented about 11,000 out of more than 400,000 beneficiaries in the 2024/2025 session.
Mr Iyal said NELFUND had contacted institutions to validate student data, noting that many of the issues arose from incorrect information supplied by applicants.
According to him, feedback has been received from over 100 institutions, and payment of the outstanding upkeep allowances is expected to commence shortly.
He also disclosed that applications for the 2025/2026 academic session began in November, 2025, with over 200 institutions submitting updated data.
He said about 280,000 applications had been received from those institutions, out of which loans had already been disbursed to more than 150,000 students.
He added that upkeep payments for the new session would begin in January, explaining that upkeep allowances were tied to active academic sessions and required fresh applications each session.
On loan repayment, Mr Iyal said repayment had already commenced, with some beneficiaries who had graduated and secured employment beginning to repay their loans.
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