Nigerian Students Shine at Cambridge Learner Awards

Funmi Ogundare

Fifty-three Nigerian students have received the outstanding Cambridge Learner awards for their November 2020 international examination series performance in various subjects.

The awards, which recognise exceptional learner achievement in Cambridge examinations around the world in over 40 countries for various subjects at Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level and Cambridge International AS and A level, is designed to celebrate and recognise the success of high-performing learners.

The award winners included three students who excelled in Sociology, Agriculture and Law. They received the ‘Top in the World’ honour. Cambridge International also granted 39 ‘Top in Nigeria’ awards to learners who achieved the highest standard mark in their country for a single subject, 19 ‘High Achievement’ awards, and three ‘Best Across’ awards to students who attained the highest cumulative total standard marks over a set number of subjects.

The top-performing students will also receive certificates from Cambridge International in recognition of their achievements.
Cambridge International’s Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Juan Visser, expressed delight about the students’ performance, considering the challenges they went through in taking the exams.

He told THISDAY, “Students around the world faced one of the most challenging years ever, with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting teaching and learning. Despite this, we are delighted to see that students in Nigeria still excelled at their examinations and managed to produce these outstanding results.

“This points not only to the dedication of learners and their teachers but also to the quality of the schools in Nigeria registered to offer Cambridge programmes.”

Visser commended the schools for organising the resources for learners to prepare, noting that it also helped with the information that the schools needed to support their study.

“The ability to keep up to date with their studies were evident in their results. I am very proud of the learners and the schools,” he said, adding that Cambridge works with the British Council to deliver curriculum to schools offering Cambridge.

Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Lucy Pearson, said it creates international opportunities through arts, English Language, education, administering exams and building stronger societies.

“The exams we administer continue to help people all over the world gain educational and professional development, so they are better positioned for success in life and their careers,” noted Pearson. “Education is a key enabler for these opportunities, and we believe in ensuring young learners have access to world-class education and assessments, which we have achieved through our partners Cambridge Assessment International Education and the British Council Partner School.”

Director Examinations, British Council Nigeria, Marniee Nottingham, said through its partner schools, the British Council provides professional skills development and networking opportunities to schools and teachers that have improved teaching talent across its portfolio of about 395 schools across Nigeria.