Three Nigerian students have arrived in Rome, Italy, to represent Nigeria at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Final after receiving private sponsorship from education technology entrepreneur Alex Onyia, following concerns over funding for the trip.
The students; Chimdiebube Onwubiko, Egejurum Onyedikachi, and Don Anele Munachimso Marvelous travelled to Italy on July 2 alongside two teachers. Their travel, accommodation, competition registration, and other logistics were fully funded by Alex Onyia, the founder of Educare with the sponsorship reportedly worth more than €30,000.
According to Onyia, the students will compete in the Mathematics and Science categories against participants from 154 countries. He previously announced that he would personally cover all expenses, stating that the students had already secured their visas and that all travel arrangements had been completed.
Among the Nigerian representatives is Egejurum Onyedikachi, a Primary 6 pupil from Owerri, who earned international recognition after outperforming older contestants in a regional STEM competition. Another participant, Don Anele Munachimso Marvelous, will compete in the senior category. Don Anele who is regarded as one of Nigeria’s top-performing science students, particularly in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
The students’ participation comes after earlier reports highlighted funding challenges that threatened Nigeria’s full representation at the international competition, prompting private intervention to ensure the country would still compete on the global stage.
By Musekir Faisat OmolaraÂ
