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By Bianca Iboma -Emefu
A record-shattering 21,700 secondary school students competed in the national pre-qualifying examinations for Season 8 of InterswitchSPAK, with the top 81 emerging as the country’s brightest young STEM stars set to battle for life-changing scholarships worth over ₦40 million.
The impressive turnout marks a nearly 20 per cent increase from last season’s over 18,200 participants, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education among Nigerian youths. The 81 high performers, drawn from schools across the nation, have now qualified for the competition’s intense next phase.
The selected students will face further assessments in the highly anticipated televised stages scheduled to air from November 2026 to January 2027, where they will compete for tertiary education scholarships and other major prizes.
Speaking on the development, Tomi Ogunlesi, Divisional Head for Brands Communications, Content & CSR at Interswitch, said: “The emergence of these 81 exceptional students is a testament to the incredible talent, resilience and promise that exists among young Nigerians. At Interswitch, we believe that investing in STEM education is critical to building the innovators, problem-solvers and technology leaders who will shape Africa’s future. While we celebrate those advancing to the next stage, we are equally proud of every student who participated and demonstrated the courage to challenge themselves and pursue excellence.”
Interswitch commended the dedication of parents, teachers, and participating schools, whose support has been key to the programme’s sustained growth and impact.
Now in its eighth season, InterswitchSPAK has established itself as Nigeria’s premier national platform for discovering and nurturing exceptional STEM talent. The initiative offers not only scholarships but also mentorship, national exposure, and opportunities that prepare students to become future leaders in technology and innovation.
As the competition advances, the remaining 81 contestants will undergo a rigorous selection process designed to identify and celebrate Nigeria’s most promising scientific minds before a national audience.
The strong participation this year further reinforces InterswitchSPAK’s role in driving STEM interest and developing the human capital essential for Africa’s digital future.
