InterswitchSPAK: Brainfield College Student, Others Win N12.5M Scholarship

Funmi Ogundare

Master Jubril Dokun, 16, a student of Brainfield College, Salolo, Lagos State has emerged winner in the third edition of InterswitchSPAK national Science competition aimed at promoting the interest of STEM among students.
After successfully scaling through multiple rigorous stages in the competition, Dokun received the grand prize of N7.5 million in scholarships, among other prizes.

The duo of Jesuferanmi Ayanlade of Obafemi Awolowo University International School, Ile-Ife, and Omoniyi Qudus of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, clinched the second and third prizes, respectively, receiving N4 million and N1 million in scholarships, among other prizes.

After a 13-week run on both terrestrial and domestic television stations, Interswitch revealed the best science student in the country during the last episode, which aired on February 5.

Over 18,000 students from various secondary schools in Nigeria competed for the N12.5 million scholarships and other perks attached to the top three positions in the competition.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay), Akeem Lawal, reiterated the need for more African students to participate in STEM fields saying that it helps Africans solve unique problems on the continent.

According to him, “as our contribution to closing this gap, we introduced InterswitchSPAK in 2018 because we realised the critical role of STEM education to our country, and the continent, and its importance to the future of Africa.

“Our objectives are clear; to prioritise STEM in the education of the Nigerian child; fan the flames of interest in STEM education, where it already exists; and to promote and reward excellence in this field of study.”

InterswitchSPAK, a collaborative effort of Interswitch and JustMedia Productions, is a CSR initiative that is held in Nigeria and Kenya annually. It has produced other winners such as Akachukwu Anumudu of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Lagos and Oyindamola Aje of Jesuit Memorial College, Rivers in 2018 and 2019.