Iwerekun Community Senior High School Wins 10th Tolaram Science Challenge

Last week in Lagos, Iwerekun Community Senior High School from Ibeju-Lekki won the grand finale of the 10th Tolaram Science Challenge. This victory marks the school's third win in a row. They beat Magbon-Alade Senior Grammar School in a tough final.

The Tolaram Science Challenge is sponsored by Lagos Free Zone. It is an annual science competition for secondary schools in the Ibeju-Lekki area. This contest brings together bright students who showcase their innovative ideas and practical solutions through STEM education.

Sixteen secondary schools took part, each with six students. They were tested in five subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and General Knowledge. At the end of the competition, Ibeju Senior High School, Lekki came third, while Community Senior High School, Lekki came fourth. Three students, Nyong Jebson, Adekunle Ephraim, and Ashikodi Chukwu, also stood out and won cash prizes for their excellent performances.

During the grand finale, Binay Saraf, the Director of Zone Development, spoke on behalf of Adesuwa Ladoja, the CEO of Lagos Free Zone. He said the competition has grown a lot over the past decade. It started small but has become a key program of Lagos Free Zone's Corporate Social Responsibility.

"Over the past decade, we have seen this event grow in scale, participation, and impact. Each year, more schools, more students, and more teachers have joined us on this journey of discovery and learning. Today, the Tolaram Science Challenge has become a platform that encourages curiosity, innovation, critical thinking, and healthy competition. More importantly, it has become a symbol of our commitment to investing in the future of our communities," Ladoja said.

She added that their commitment to the competition reflects their belief that today's students will be tomorrow's innovators, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

"At Lagos Free Zone and Tolaram, we believe that developing communities goes beyond building infrastructure or creating jobs. It also means creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and discover their potential," she said.

Ladoja encouraged students to see competitions as chances to build confidence, solve problems, work in teams, and discover their abilities. "Whether you receive a prize today or not, the knowledge you gain, the friendships you build, and the experience you take away will remain with you for life," she added.

Vishal Shah, Director and Chief Sustainability Officer at Lagos Free Zone, also spoke. He highlighted that the Zone is committed to improving education quality in Ibeju-Lekki through this initiative. Shah noted that the competition has encouraged healthy competition among students and improved their performance in exams over the last ten years.

Olakunle Fadumiye, the Visioner of the Tolaram Science Challenge, shared the motivation behind the competition. He wants participants to return to their schools as ambassadors of excellence, regardless of whether they win or not.

"When we started in 2016, many students had little motivation to pursue science subjects. Some preferred fishing and informal work instead of going to school because they saw few opportunities through education. University seemed unattainable to many. Yet we believed that if we could inspire even a few students to dream bigger, we could begin changing the future of an entire community," Fadumiye said.

He praised the leadership of Tolaram and LFZ for their efforts in creating symbols of economic transformation and national development. Fadumiye urged LFZ to give TSC alumni preference for internships and job placements in the Zone, which would help them gain valuable experience.

Mrs Olubunmi Ajibola-Morebise, Deputy Director of the Schools Support Unit in Education District 3, Ikoyi, Lagos, praised Lagos Free Zone and Tolaram for keeping the competition alive. Morebise said the competition has positively impacted students in Ibeju-Lekki by promoting a better reading culture and healthy competition among teachers.

In addition, 32 students received scholarships for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) due to their outstanding performance in the competition.

After the event, Fawaz Alayo, the team captain of Iwerekun Community Senior High School, expressed his excitement. He said the team's success was thanks to the efforts of their teachers and the support from the school.