Nigerian students win multiple gold medals at International STEM Olympiad in Rome
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Three Nigerian students, Egejurum Onyedikachi, Onwubiko Chimdiebube, and Don Anele Munachimso, secured gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad in Rome, Italy. Onyedikachi was recognized as the world's best in the Mathematics Primary Category, while Munachimso also won a gold medal in Science. Education advocate and Educare CEO, Alex Onyia, sponsored the students' participation after they excelled in the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad. The International STEM Olympiad, held at the Universit脿 Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, featured participants from over 150 countries. Onyia covered the expenses for the students' travel and participation, including registration, visas, flights, and accommodation. The students represented Nigeria in the primary, junior, and senior categories, achieving significant recognition on the global academic stage.
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President Bola Tinubu commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his dedication to project delivery, stating that Wike "does not sleep until the job is done." The President's remarks were made during the commissioning of the newly constructed Collector Road C01 and its bridge in Abuja's Institution and Research District. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu highlighted that the ongoing transformation in Abuja reflects his administration's broader development agenda for Nigeria. He emphasized that infrastructure is crucial for economic prosperity, attracting investment, and creating jobs. Tinubu noted that the road project addressed traffic congestion concerns raised by the Body of Benchers during a Nigerian Law School Call to Bar ceremony. He also mentioned that the construction generated hundreds of jobs and eased movement for students, lecturers, and residents. Wike, in his remarks, stated that this was the 21st project commissioned in the FCT under the current administration and thanked Tinubu for providing resources and removing the FCT Administration from the Treasury Single Account, which he said improved project delivery. The Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Dauda, also spoke, highlighting the project's benefits for connectivity and adherence to the FCT Master Plan.
Must ReadThe National Association of Nigerian Students NANS has released a list of 39 tertiary institutions that have not yet refunded students who paid their tuition fees before receiving disbursements from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFUND. NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, stated that these institutions received tuition payments from NELFUND on behalf of eligible students but have not refunded those who had previously paid their fees. The publication of this list aims to promote transparency and accountability, ensuring affected students receive their refunds without further delay. NANS urged the listed institutions to expedite the refund process, emphasizing that students who paid their tuition before NELFUND disbursements should not face unnecessary financial burdens. The list includes institutions such as Adamawa State University, Kaduna State Polytechnic, University of Uyo, and University of Nigeria, among others.
Unions under the Joint Action Committee of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority have urged the Federal Government to commercialize or privatize the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority NAMA. This appeal was made in a joint statement by NCAA branch unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, National Union of Air Transport Employees, and National Association of Air Pilots and Engineers. The unions believe that commercializing or privatizing NAMA is crucial for modernizing Nigeria鈥檚 air navigation infrastructure and enhancing aviation safety. They stated that NAMA's reliance on government allocations has limited investments in critical technologies needed to meet global aviation standards. Commercialization, they argue, would allow NAMA to access private equity, international financing, capital markets, and bond issuance for infrastructure development, supporting the deployment of satellite-based navigation systems and modern backup infrastructure. The unions highlighted that the current funding model, tied to annual government budgets, often faces delays due to prolonged budget processes, political priorities, and bureaucratic bottlenecks, which slow critical safety upgrades. They also expressed concern over insufficient transparency in NAMA鈥檚 revenue reporting, calling for public disclosure of revenues from airspace violation penalties and Extension of Service Hours charges. The unions pro