In a significant milestone for science education in Nigeria, 27 talented students have advanced to the semi-final stage of the national science school competition organised by Interswitch. This development marks a key step in the seventh edition of the renowned InterswitchSPAK challenge, where young minds from across the country compete for recognition and valuable awards.
This year’s competition has attracted wide attention, drawing participants who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance and creativity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The event has become one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms for encouraging excellence among school-aged innovators and thinkers.
The semi-finalists will now prepare to showcase their knowledge and problem-solving abilities in the next round of this high-profile competition. The platform gives participants an opportunity not just to compete, but to demonstrate how their skills can address real-world challenges in their communities and beyond.
Officials from Interswitch emphasise that the competition is part of a broader effort to build Nigeria’s future innovators by promoting STEM education among secondary school students. Organisers have worked to ensure that InterswitchSPAK is more than just a contest by turning it into a space where young Nigerians can be empowered with confidence and readiness for the global economy.
At the heart of the initiative is the belief that talent exists in every part of the country. Each year, students from different states bring their best ideas forward, hoping to earn a spot among the final contenders who will ultimately compete for scholarships and prizes worth millions of naira.
According to the organisers, this competition is designed to spark curiosity, reward creativity, and foster resilience among participating students. The semi-final stage will pit the top 27 against each other in intellectually stimulating challenges that are expected to stretch their thinking and problem-solving skills.
During the preliminaries, students competed in a series of tests and projects that evaluated their grasp of key scientific principles and their ability to innovate under pressure. The selection process was rigorous, aimed at identifying those with the greatest potential to succeed as the contest moves toward determining its top winners.
In her remarks on the competition’s impact, Executive Vice President of Group Marketing and Communications for Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele, reminded stakeholders that the mission goes far beyond winning trophies and prizes. “InterswitchSPAK is more than a competition; it is a deliberate investment in the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders,” she said. “By creating a platform that challenges and inspires young minds, we are equipping them with the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy.”
Eromosele’s comments underline how the event serves as a strategic tool to encourage critical thinking and build a generation of young people ready to tackle complex problems in science and technology fields. The competition aligns with broader efforts to strengthen the pipeline of skilled talent that Nigeria and Africa need to accelerate economic and technological development.
For the students competing, the experience is both thrilling and transformative. One of the semi-finalists, Gbolamiga Atekoja from Heritreats Private Secondary School in Ondo State, described his journey this way: “Qualifying for the preliminaries of InterswitchSPAK has been a dream come true. I have always wanted to be part of this competition since my junior secondary school days. The experience has pushed me to think faster, work smarter, and believe more in my abilities. I’m grateful for the opportunity and for the platform Interswitch has created for students like me to grow and showcase our potential.”
