INTERSWITCH, an integrated payments and digital commerce company, has reaffirmed its commitment to promote science-related education in Nigeria and Africa at large.

The company gave this assurance while announcing the winners of this year’s national science competition, christened InterswitchSpark, recently.

The competition with this year’s edition being sixth in the series was introduced to identify, celebrate and encourage exceptional young talent among secondary school students in Nigeria and some other African countries as part of the company’s commitment to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Africa.

It is free and open to every secondary school student in the country.

No fewer than 16,000 students across Nigeria participated in this year’s competition with Henry Ndudu Ekong from Pegasus School, Akwa Ibom State emerging overall winner, while Eric Denyefa Omare from St. Gregory’s College, Lagos and David Umeojiaka from Graceland International School, Rivers State emerged second and third respectively.

While Ekong received a N15 million tertiary scholarship spread over five years, a laptop, and monthly stipends; Omare and Umeojiaka were awarded a N10 million scholarship spread over three years and a laptop, as well as a N5 million scholarship for one year and a laptop, respectively.

Furthermore, cash prizes were also given to not only the fourth to ninth-place winners but also to the top 18 semi-finalists as well as the top 27 contributing teachers.

Additionally, all the top 200 at the preliminary stage of the competition also received JAMB e-PINS to register for this year’s UTME free of charge.

Commenting on the competition, the executive vice president (Group Marketing and Communications), Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele, expressed delight on the impact of the competition on students, boosting their studies of STEM education.

According to her, we believe as a company that Nigeria’s future lies in the minds and hands of our youths, especially those who are passionate about science and technology education.

“So, the competition is designed to empower them through scholarship, skills, tools and other basic resources they need to innovate and excel and our investment in STEM education not only fuels individual success but also drives economic growth and societal progress, building a brighter future for Nigeria.”

In his remark, the star prize winner, Henry, expressed gratitude to Interswitch, considering his winning as a great honour.

According to him, this company’s investment in our future will greatly translate to heavy harvest for us and the country at large.