Hallmark School Student Wins Interswitch SPAK 5.0 National Science Contest

Funmi Ogundare 

Abraham Daramola of Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo State, has emerged the overall winner of the fifth InterswitchSPAK national Science competition, designed to recognise and reward exceptional efforts of brilliant young minds striving for excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. 

Following his outstanding performance, Abraham received a university scholarship valued at N7.5 million, spread over five years, inclusive of a monthly stipend, a brand-new laptop, as well as a prestigious recognition as the best STEM student in Nigeria.

Securing the second and third place positions were Emmanuel Omoegbeleghan of the Crescent International School, Ogun State, and Emmanuel Angelo-Hyuwa from the Ambassadors College, Ogun State, who won N4 million and N1 million scholarships, respectively. 

Out of almost 17,000 initial applications from secondary school students nationwide, the top three winners rose due to their speed, perseverance, accuracy and knowledge.

Now in its fifth year in Nigeria, the initiative has directly reached over 80,000 students in Nigeria and Kenya, boosting interest in STEM subjects and rewarding excellence in the field of study. 

Speaking on the significance of the competition, Managing Director, Interswitch Cards and Tokens (Verve), Vincent Ogbunude, reaffirmed the InterswitchSPAK initiative’s dedication to promoting STEM education and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence among young Nigerians. 

“We believe in the transformative power of education, and through this competition, we illuminate the path for the next generation to innovate, create, and lead in the world of science and technology.”

To celebrate the fifth edition of the InterswitchSPAK competition, a CSR initiative of Interswitch also expanded the prize pool, with the 4th to 24th place winners receiving cash prizes of up to N250,000.

The success of this commemorative edition of the competition, Ogbunude stated, reinforces Interswitch’s position as a leading advocate for educational advancement and underscores the company’s relentless efforts in shaping the future of STEM in Africa. 

He expressed hope that as the InterswitchSPAK national Science competition continues to impact STEM education in Nigeria and across Africa profoundly, it will continue to sustain the momentum and further contribute to the development of STEM talent across the continent.