Iwerekun Community Senior High School Wins 10th Tolaram Science Challenge, Secures Third Consecutive Title

Iwerekun Community Senior High School, Ibeju-Lekki, has emerged as the overall winner of the 10th edition of the Tolaram Science Challenge (TSC), clinching the coveted title for the third consecutive year in a milestone competition celebrating a decade of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Lagos.

The grand finale of the competition, held in Lagos on June 26, brought together some of the brightest secondary school students from the Ibeju-Lekki axis. Iwerekun Community Senior High School defeated Magbon-Alade Senior Grammar School in a fiercely contested final to retain its crown.

The annual competition featured 16 secondary schools, each represented by six students, who competed in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and General Knowledge.

At the end of the contest, Ibeju Senior High School, Lekki, finished in third place, while Community Senior High School, Lekki, came fourth.

Individual honours also went to outstanding participants, with Nyong Jebson emerging as the overall best student, Adekunle Ephraim placing second, and Ashikodi Chukwu finishing third. The top-performing students received cash prizes in recognition of their exceptional performances.

Speaking at the event on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Free Zone, Adesuwa Ladoja, the Director of Zone Development, Binay Saraf, described the competition’s 10-year journey as a remarkable achievement.

He said what began as a modest initiative had evolved into one of Lagos Free Zone’s most impactful educational interventions.

“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,” he said on behalf of the CEO.

Ladoja also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to investing in young people, noting that sustainable community development extends beyond infrastructure and employment.

“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.

She encouraged students to see competitions as opportunities to build confidence, develop teamwork and strengthen problem-solving abilities, regardless of whether they won prizes.

Also speaking, the Director and Chief Sustainability Officer of Lagos Free Zone, Vishal Shah, said the organisation remains committed to improving the quality of education in the Ibeju-Lekki area through the initiative.

According to him, the competition has significantly contributed to fostering healthy academic competition and improving students’ performances in qualifying examinations over the last decade.

The Visioner of the Tolaram Science Challenge, Olakunle Fadumiye, reflected on the programme’s origins, recalling that when the initiative began in 2016, many students in the community lacked motivation to pursue science education because of limited opportunities.

He said the vision was to inspire students to become ambassadors of excellence and possibility, regardless of whether they emerged winners.

“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 also urged Lagos Free Zone to strengthen support for alumni of the competition by offering them priority access to industrial training, internship opportunities and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) placements within the Zone, describing such opportunities as essential for preparing students for successful careers.

Commending the organisers, Mrs. Olubunmi Ajibola-Morebise, Deputy Director of the Schools Support Unit, Education District III, Ikoyi, praised Lagos Free Zone and Tolaram for sustaining the initiative over the past decade.

She noted that the competition has helped improve reading culture among students while promoting healthy academic rivalry among teachers and schools across the Ibeju-Lekki axis.

In addition to the competition prizes, 32 students received Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scholarships in recognition of their outstanding performances.

Expressing delight after receiving the championship trophy, the captain of the winning team, Fawaz Alayo, attributed the school’s success to the dedication of its teachers and the unwavering support provided by the school’s management.

The 10th edition of the Tolaram Science Challenge underscores Lagos Free Zone’s sustained commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators while strengthening STEM education and academic excellence in host communities across Ibeju-Lekki.