The air crackled with anticipation on Friday as students from Lagos State’s District Four gathered for the MindsMasterz Inter-School Competition, a spirited battle of intellect powered by FiberOne, an Internet Service Provider investing in Nigeria’s digital future.
The tournament, which opened on Thursday 30 October 2025, forms part of FiberOne’s Corporate Social Responsibility agenda to nurture the next generation of talent in digital infrastructure and technology. Eight schools qualified for the contest, including Wesley Girls’ Senior Secondary School and Onitolo Community Senior High School.
The event was conducted by The Leadership Consult, featuring Ayo Fagbuyi as the anchor and Dr. Sesan as the chief judge.
The format involved a school ballot to assign teams into blue or red groups. The rules were clearly defined, including specifications for units, decimals, and official announcements.
Teams answered randomly selected questions from subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, and General Knowledge.
Each question had a 45-second window to test analytical skills, with correct answers earning 10 points and extra points awarded at five and three points with discretion.
The semi-finals featured two matches: the first round was contested between Eletu Odibo Senior High School and Sanya Senior Grammar School, while the second round saw Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School face Onitolo Community Senior High School.
The event welcomed teachers, principals, and education administrative officers from across Lagos State, highlighting the importance of educational leadership and support at all levels.
The game master offered words of encouragement to schools that did not win, emphasising, “You didn’t lose but you learnt.” The Master of Ceremonies also gathered reactions from students and teachers about their experiences:
“My experience here has been educative even though I didn’t qualify for the semi-finals, but at least I learnt a lot,” said Sunday Esther of Senior High School
“It’s not just about winning, but trying your best and putting in all your efforts. We know that we have to go back and put in more effort,” said Joseph Murtala Animashun of Snr High Grammar School
A teacher shared, “We’ve always told them to value fair play and team spirit. If we lose, there’s always another day; we must return to the drawing board and prepare for the next competition.”
“My experience so far has been very educative. From this competition, I’ve gained knowledge I didn’t have before, especially in Chemistry and Physics,” Mohammed of Birrel Avenue Senior High School said.
Toyosi Oladeinde, head of Retention & Enterprise at FiberOne, noted, “It’s nice to see students showcase their talent and knowledge. I hope they came not only to win but also to learn and take away new knowledge.”
As anticipation mounted before the final round, the atmosphere was charged with excitement and friendly rivalry.
The decisive battle was set between Wesley Girls Secondary School and Sanya Senior Grammar School, both teams eager to prove their mettle.
In a spirited display of teamwork and determination, the competition featured a classic tug of war, symbolising the fierce yet respectful contest that lay ahead. This moment captured the collective enthusiasm and sportsmanship of the participants, setting the stage for an intense and memorable final round.
The final round was intensely competitive, with the score tied three times. Eletu Odibo Senior High School finished in third place, receiving a cash prize of 150,000 naira.
Sanya Senior High School secured second place with a prize of 350,000 naira, while Wesley Girls’ Secondary School emerged as the overall winner, awarded a cash prize of 450,000 naira.
In a post-competition interview, Kenny Joda, head of Regulatory and Public Relations at FiberOne, highlighted the initiative’s goals:
“As our CEO mentioned, this is part of giving back to society. We’re looking to create an ecosystem, nurturing children from early educational levels to tackle the shortage of professionals in the industry. This year, we launched the FiberOne Training Academy to address the lack of engineers capable of handling fibre optic technology, and we aim to support the digitalization of Nigeria’s economy and the Federal Government’s agenda.”
Reflecting on the event’s impact, Joda stated,
“The competitiveness you witnessed is exactly what we intended. It’s reminiscent of the Master Mind show from the late 80s. In today’s ecosystem, this kind of competition builds value, and we encourage other brands to follow suit.”
Looking ahead, Joda projected significant growth:
“Next year will be twenty times bigger. This is just the beginning of a test drive to see the benefits for parents and teachers. FiberOne is committed to innovation, and we plan to expand and elevate the event to a national level.”
Joda confirmed plans to broaden the initiative beyond Lagos:
“We started the pilot in Lagos to perfect the process, but we’re already expanding into Kwara State, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and five additional states.”
Onatoye Oluwakemi from the Co-curricular Science and Tech Department, representing TG & PS Education Division 4, expressed gratitude to FiberOne for providing a platform for students to compete globally.
She encouraged students to always be prepared, echoing the Boy Scout movement’s slogan, and applauded science teachers for their dedication, emphasizing that “science is life.” Of the 97 schools in District 4, eight were selected to participate, and she advocated for broader inclusion in future competitions.
At the event, Adeyinka Isioye, FiberOne’s chief experience officer, explained FiberOne’s mission, tying it directly to education.
He engaged students about the company’s role as an Internet Service Provider and stressed the need for skilled professionals to manage digital infrastructure.
Adeyinka shared insights into the FiberOne Training Academy (FOTA), a CSR project aimed at equipping young Nigerians with scarce fibre optic engineering skills.
He highlighted the importance of robust digital infrastructure for Nigeria’s digital economy, including advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. Adeyinka assured students that even if they did not win this year, other opportunities would arise.
Looking forward, FiberOne has an upcoming programme called, FOTA 3.0, a programme designed to train participants in practical and technical skills necessary for careers as Fiber Optic Engineers.
