Lauded as 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.

16-year-old Saint Riman of Adedokun International Schools, Ota, Ogun State, emerged as the overall winner and was crowned Nigeria’s Best STEM Student, receiving a ₦15 million scholarship.

David Okorie of Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos State, secured the First Runner-Up position with a ₦10 million scholarship, while David Solomonezemma of Deeper Life High School, Enugu State, emerged as the Second Runner-Up, bagging a ₦5 million scholarship. All winners also received brand-new laptops in addition to other exciting prizes.

While presenting the awards, Cherry Eromosele, executive vice president, Group Marketing and Communications, Interswitch, commended the students for their discipline, resilience, and exceptional intellectual performance.

She said:

“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,” 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.

From an initial pool of over 18,000 registered senior secondary school students nationwide, the InterswitchSPAK 7.0 progressed through a rigorous computer-based qualifying test, producing 81 outstanding students drawn from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Following the preliminary rounds, 27 semi-finalists emerged, marking a major milestone in the journey toward the grand finale.

From this highly competitive group, nine exceptional students have now been selected as finalists, reflecting the depth of talent, discipline, and scientific excellence demonstrated throughout the multi-stage evaluation process.

The finalists are Lyon Awhaisoba of Apt Scholars Universal College, Ogun State; Naetochukwu Ochi of Jesuit Memorial College, Rivers State; Saint Riman of Adedokun International Schools, Ogun State; Emmanuel Ashaolu of Welkin International School, Ogun State; and Gbolamiga Atekoja of Heritreats Private Secondary School, Ondo State.

The remaining finalists are David Solomonezemma of Deeper Life High School, Enugu State; Eke David of Marist Brothers’ Juniorate, Abia State; Chukwubudem Ezeobi of British Spring College, Anambra State; and David Okorie of Caleb International College, Lagos State.

Speaking on the significance of the milestone, Cherry Eromosele, executive vice president, Group Marketing and Communications, Interswitch, said the competition continues to play a critical role in shaping Africa’s future talent pipeline.

“InterswitchSPAK was created to identify, inspire, and reward excellence in STEM education while equipping young Africans with the skills needed to solve real-world problems. These nine finalists have demonstrated exceptional brilliance, resilience, and a passion for innovation. They represent the future of science, technology, and problem-solving in Africa,” she said.

At the grand finale, the finalists will vie for scholarships and prizes valued at over ₦35 million.

The overall winner will receive a ₦15 million tertiary education scholarship spread across five years, a brand-new laptop, and monthly stipends.

The first runner-up will be awarded a ₦10 million scholarship over three years and a laptop, while the second runner-up will receive a ₦5 million one-year scholarship and a laptop.

Additional cash prizes will be awarded to finalists ranked fourth through ninth, alongside recognition for the top 18 semi-finalists and 27 outstanding teachers whose mentorship supported the students’ journeys.

Now in its seventh year, InterswitchSPAK has evolved beyond a competition into a national platform dedicated to nurturing the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers.

Through sustained investment in STEM education, Interswitch continues to reinforce its commitment to empowering young Africans with the skills required to drive innovation, economic progress, and long-term socio-economic development across the continent.

Viewers can watch the upcoming grand finale episode set to air on Sunday, January 25th 2026 on DSTV Africa Magic Family (Channel 154) at 6:00pm on Sundays, or on AIT Network at 5:30pm.

This season will bring together exceptional students from secondary schools across various Nigerian states including Kaduna, Abuja, Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ogun among others.

Viewers can look forward to 13 exciting weeks of a riveting showcase of the nation’s brightest, young scientific talent on a national stage.

InterswitchSPAK, a flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Interswitch, has grown into Nigeria’s premier platform for advancing STEM education, providing young students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, creativity, and potential.

The new edition of the TV broadcast will commence with the preliminary rounds on November 9, 2025. Over nine episodes, 81 students will compete, with this phase running until January 4th, 2026.

The top 27 contestants will then advance to the semi-finals, airing from January 11th to 25th, 2026, culminating in the grand finale on February 1st, 2026, where nine finalists will compete for the top scholarship prizes.

This season will air every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. on DStv Africa Magic Family channel 154, with repeats every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., and will also be broadcast nationwide on AIT Network every Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

also on Sundays. The show will spotlight key milestones from exceptional performances in the preliminaries to the emergence of the top nine contestants in the semi-finals, before the final showdown in February.

Commenting on the upcoming season, Cherry Eromosele, Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Corporate Communications at Interswitch, said:

“Over the years, InterswitchSPAK has evolved beyond a competition into a platform that inspires excellence and showcases the remarkable potential of young Nigerians. Each season, we witness students push boundaries, demonstrate resilience, and shine brightly on the national stage. This seventh edition presents another opportunity to amplify that impact, empowering participants with knowledge, inspiration, and life-long skills that will shape not only their future, but also the future of our nation.”

Outstanding students will be rewarded with scholarships worth over ₦35 million including monthly stipends, brand new laptops and other exciting prizes.

Beyond these prizes, InterswitchSPAK is anchored on a clear purpose, to build a pipeline of innovators, problem-solvers, and thought leaders who will shape the future of Nigeria and Africa through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Now in its seventh year, InterswitchSPAK continues to reward academic brilliance, encourage innovation, and strengthen the role of STEM in nurturing the next generation of African leaders.

It started in June 2025. From bustling classrooms in Lagos to quiet science labs in Sokoto, students took part in a two-stage qualifying exam that tested their command of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. It was intense.

It was competitive. And from that sea of talent, the top 500 were filtered. Then came a second wave of testing — deeper, more demanding — which finally revealed the elite 81 finalists.

These aren’t just names on a leaderboard. They are dreamers, problem-solvers, and future innovators — the kind of thinkers who will shape Africa’s technology, health, energy, and space frontiers in years to come.

Now, these 81 students are set to face off on national television, in a 13-week STEM quiz show powered by InterswitchSPAK — a flagship CSR initiative of Interswitch Group. With a top prize that includes ₦15 million in university scholarship, a brand-new laptop, and national bragging rights, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

But beyond the spotlight and applause, the real reward is the future these students represent. In the words of Cherry Eromosele, EVP at Interswitch:

“The quality of performance and commitment we have seen from students across the country has been nothing short of inspiring. InterswitchSPAK continues to deliver on its mission to identify and nurture the next generation of leaders in STEM, and the emergence of these 81 finalists marks a major milestone in this journey. We look forward to showcasing their brilliance during the televised broadcast as they compete not only for prizes, but for a chance to make their imprint in the sands of time.”

The televised show kicks off nationwide on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Tune in to witness not just a battle of brains, but the unveiling of Nigeria’s next generation of tech leaders.

Follow @InterswitchSPAK on Instagram and YouTube for updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and full broadcast schedules.