NEWS
Nigerian Students Shine on Global Stage, Win Four Gold Medals at International STEM Olympiad in Italy
Nigeria has recorded a remarkable academic milestone on the global stage as three exceptional students won a total of four gold medals at the Grand Finale of the International STEM Olympiad held in Rome, Italy, reaffirming the country’s immense potential in science and mathematics.
The outstanding achievement was announced on Tuesday by education advocate and Educare CEO, Alex Onyia, who sponsored the students’ participation in the prestigious international competition after they emerged among the top performers at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad.
The competition produced an extraordinary performance from Team Nigeria, with 17-year-old Don Anele Munachimso winning two gold medals, including the world title in Science. Eleven-year-old Egejurum Onyedikachi emerged as the world’s best in the Primary Mathematics category, while 13-year-old Chimdiebube Onwubiko also secured a gold medal, completing a historic outing for the Nigerian contingent.
Before the competition, Onyia had expressed confidence in the students’ abilities, describing them as some of Nigeria’s brightest young minds capable of competing with the very best across the globe.
He particularly highlighted Don Anele Munachimso’s exceptional academic credentials, noting that the teenager had already distinguished himself as Nigeria’s best Chemistry student in the IGCSE examinations.
Onyia described him as a gifted student with extraordinary abilities in mathematics and science, expressing optimism that he would excel at the global competition.
Attention also focused on 11-year-old Egejurum Onyedikachi, who represented Nigeria in the Primary Mathematics category.
Onyia had predicted the young prodigy would deliver an outstanding performance and was confident he could attain a perfect score.
During the Olympiad, Egejurum further demonstrated his brilliance by voluntarily participating in the Science category despite having made no prior preparations, underscoring his confidence and academic versatility.
The students’ impressive outing attracted widespread attention, particularly at a time when concerns have been raised over Nigeria’s declining participation in major international academic competitions.
Only a few weeks earlier, education stakeholders revealed that Nigeria had been downgraded to observer status at the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad in Shanghai, China, after several years of non-participation caused largely by funding challenges.
Although the Federal Ministry of Education stated it was unaware of the specific funding issues surrounding Nigeria’s participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad, the successful sponsorship of the Rome-bound students by Onyia has been widely hailed as a demonstration of how private sector initiatives can bridge funding gaps and provide talented Nigerian students with opportunities to compete internationally.
With the latest triumph, Nigeria finished the competition with four gold medals. Don Anele Munachimso claimed two gold medals, including the world championship in Science, while Egejurum Onyedikachi emerged as the world’s best in the Primary Mathematics category. Chimdiebube Onwubiko also secured a gold medal, making it a memorable performance for Team Nigeria.
The International STEM Olympiad was hosted at the Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and attracted participants from more than 150 countries competing in Mathematics and Science events.
The three Nigerian representatives — 11-year-old Egejurum Onyedikachi, 13-year-old Onwubiko Chimdiebube and 17-year-old Don Anele Munachimso qualified for the global contest after emerging among the best contestants at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad, a competition organised by Alex Onyia that attracted more than 11,500 participants from across Nigeria’s South-East region.
Their outstanding performance has been celebrated as a powerful reminder of the country’s vast academic talent and the importance of sustained investment in education, innovation and opportunities that enable young Nigerians to compete successfully on the global stage.