Three Nigerian students win gold at International STEM Olympiad in Rome

Three Nigerian students have won gold medals at the Grand Finale of the International STEM Olympiad in Rome, Italy, marking a major achievement for the country on the global academic stage.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by education advocate and Educare CEO Alex Onyia, who sponsored the students’ participation in the competition after they emerged among the top performers at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad.

Sharing the development on X, Onyia initially wrote, “The wait is over. We have two golds: Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Anele Munachimso. We are the best in the world! ”

However, he later confirmed that Egejurum had also been awarded a gold medal, while Don Anele secured a second gold medal in Science.

“More good news. Don Anele Munachimso also won gold in Science. He is the best in world science. Remember, he is the best in IGCSE Chemistry in Nigeria. The investment is worth it,” Onyia wrote.

In another update, he announced, “Onyedikachi Egejurum got a Gold. He is the best in Mathematics in the world Primary Category. This is the beginning of greatness for the country.”

The International STEM Olympiad, held at the Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, attracted participants from more than 150 countries competing in Mathematics and Science events.

Photos shared from the award ceremony showed the Nigerian students receiving their medals.

The three students, 11-year-old Egejurum Onyedikachi, 13-year-old Onwubiko Chimdiebube and 17-year-old Don Anele Munachimso, qualified to represent Nigeria after emerging among the best contestants at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad, a competition organised by Onyia that attracted more than 11,500 participants from across the region.

Following their success at the regional competition, Onyia sponsored their participation in the International STEM Olympiad, covering the costs of their registration, visas, flights, accommodation and other travel expenses to enable them compete in Rome.

The students, accompanied by their teachers, represented Nigeria in the primary, junior and senior categories at the global competition.

Before the event, Onyia had expressed confidence in the team’s chances, describing the students as some of Nigeria’s brightest young minds.

Speaking about Don Anele, who competed in the senior category, Onyia said the student was one of the country’s finest science talents.

“He is currently the best in Chemistry for IGCSE in Nigeria. His head is filled with maths and science. He is such a gentle and well-behaved boy. He is a star,” he wrote before the competition.

He also praised 11-year-old Egejurum, who represented Nigeria in the primary Mathematics category, expressing confidence that the young prodigy could achieve a perfect score.

During the competition, Onyia revealed that Egejurum had voluntarily decided to compete in the Science category despite making no prior preparations.

“Our star boy, Egejurum Onyedikachi, decided to participate again today in the International STEM Olympiad finale, science category, unprepared… We are rooting for him to win double gold,” he wrote.

The students’ participation attracted widespread attention because it came amid concerns over Nigeria’s dwindling presence at major international academic competitions.

Only weeks earlier, education stakeholders disclosed that Nigeria had been downgraded to observer status at the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad in Shanghai, China, after failing to participate competitively for several years due to funding challenges.

While the Federal Ministry of Education said it was unaware of the specific funding issues surrounding Nigeria’s participation at the IMO, the sponsorship of the Rome-bound students by Onyia was widely viewed as an example of how private initiatives can help ensure gifted Nigerian students continue to compete on the global stage.

With the latest results, Nigeria has secured four gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad. Don Anele Munachimso won two gold medals, including the world title in Science, while Egejurum Onyedikachi emerged the world’s best in the Primary Mathematics category. Chimdiebube Onwubiko also won a gold medal, completing a remarkable outing for Team Nigeria at the competition.