Iwerekun Community Senior High School, located in Ibeju-Lekki, secured its third straight win at the 10th annual Tolaram Science Challenge (TSC) grand finale held in Lagos. The school successfully outperformed Magbon-Alade Senior Grammar School in a highly competitive final round. Sponsored by the Lagos Free Zone, this yearly event serves as a primary platform for secondary students in the Ibeju-Lekki area to demonstrate their expertise in STEM subjects.
Sixteen schools participated, with teams tested on their proficiency in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and General Knowledge. Ibeju Senior High School and Community Senior High School, both based in Lekki, took home third and fourth place respectively. Additionally, students Nyong Jebson, Adekunle Ephraim, and Ashikodi Chukwu were recognized with top individual honors and cash prizes for their exceptional performances.
Binay Saraf, representing Lagos Free Zone CEO Adesuwa Ladoja, highlighted the decade-long evolution of the challenge from a small project to a major Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. Ladoja emphasized that the program aims to cultivate future leaders by encouraging innovation and critical thinking. Furthermore, thirty-two students were granted scholarships for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as a result of their high scores during the contest.
Olakunle Fadumiye, the founder of the TSC, recalled that the initiative began in 2016 to inspire local students who previously lacked motivation or resources to pursue scientific careers. He encouraged organizers to provide internship and industrial training placements for competition alumni to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional life. Government officials, including Mrs. Olubunmi Ajibola-Morebise from Education District 3, praised the competition for its positive influence on the academic culture within the region.
