Saluting our victorious knowledge Olympians

Nigeria’s performance at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad in Rome was outstanding not only because of the medals won, but because it came from a broad spread of schools and subjects, showing that the country’s academic promise is still deeply embedded. 

At a time when school abductions by jihadists and bandits, insecurity, and the wider war on Western education continue to haunt parts of the country, the results offered a rare and welcome assertion that Nigerian students can still compete with the best in the world in mathematics, science, coding, and other intellectually demanding fields.

The headline achievers were Chimdiebube Onwubiko of Evergreen Schools, Enugu, who won gold in Mathematics; Don Anele Munachimso Marvelous of Diamond Special College, Owerri, who won gold in Mathematics and Science; and Egejurum Onyedikachi Ethan, of Diamond Special College, Owerri, who also won gold in Primary Mathematics. Their success should be preserved as a matter of public record, because it gives younger students concrete examples of what is possible when talent is matched with preparation and support.

We also warmly acknowledge the strong showing from other schools. The Ambassadors Schools, Ota, Ogun State, were equally impressive, winning 33 medals in all: 15 gold, nine silver, nine bronze, and one honourable mention. Their students excelled across coding, mathematics, science, and the Bridge Challenge, demonstrating both breadth and depth.

Children’s International School, Lagos, also recorded a superb outing, with 35 medals at the Global STEM and Coding Olympiads, underscoring the strength of Nigerian private schooling in technology-linked disciplines. Also, Gonzaga Jesuit College, Okija, Anambra State, came home with 25 awards, including 10 gold, three silver, nine bronze medals, and three honourable mentions.

This wider spread matters. It shows that the story is not just about one elite cluster. It is about a number of institutions producing results that can proudly wear the Nigerian colours and stand on any international stage. It also helps prevent the triumph from being distorted into sectional politics as we see on social media. This is a national success story, and it should remain one.

Credit is also due to Alex Onyia, proprietor of Educare, who bankrolled the three headline gold medalists from the South East and accompanied them to Rome. That kind of private-sector intervention is the sort of practical patriotism Nigeria needs more of, especially when public support for education is too often uneven. His effort ensured that talent was not stranded at home.

The Federal Government should take note. It cannot continue to act detached from educational excellence while rushing to celebrate football alone. Nigeria needs the same energy for the classroom that it reserves for the stadium. A serious government will treat this achievement as proof that the country still has minds worth nurturing, schools worth supporting, and a future worth investing in. 

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