Adewale Student Conference STEM Beneficiary, Saint Riman, Crowned Nigeria’s Best STEM Student, Bags N15m Scholarship
By Odunuga Yusuf
Saint Riman, a 16-year-old student of Adedokun International Schools, Ota, Ogun State, has emerged as the overall winner of the InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition, clinching the coveted title of Nigeria’s Best STEM Student and a N15 million scholarship at the InterswitchSPAK 7.0 grand finale.
InterswitchSPAK, the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Interswitch—one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies—is Nigeria’s largest STEM competition for senior secondary school students. The programme concluded on a high note after months of rigorous nationwide assessments, problem-solving challenges, and competitive stages involving over 18,000 registered participants.
Saint Riman’s victory adds to an impressive track record. He had previously won the Adewale STEM Contest in Remo Constituency, Ogun State, twice—first as a fresh SS2 student and again as a fresh SS3 student. The Adewale STEM Contest is an educational initiative sponsored by Michael Adewale Adesanya.
Business Post reports that David Okorie of Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos State, emerged as first runner-up, receiving a N10 million scholarship, while David Solomonezemma of Deeper Life High School, Enugu State, took second runner-up position with a N5 million scholarship. All three winners also received brand-new laptops in addition to other exciting prizes.
While presenting the awards, Ms. Cherry Eromosele, Group Marketing and Communications for Interswitch, 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 stated.
Beyond the top three winners, other finalists received brand-new laptops and cash rewards for outstanding performance. Their teachers 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 among 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 demonstrate 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.
