Saheed Ibrahim

Two students of Saint Joseph’s College Ondo, Ondo State, emerged first and third respectively in Physics at the Nigeria Mathematics and Science Olympiad Competition in Abuja.

Master Akinkpelumi Samuel, an SS2 student, beat other contestants from across the federation to come first in Physics, while Master Bamidele Raymond, a JSS3 student, defeated his senior counterparts to come third.

The Principal of the school, Mr. Olabisi Omotayo, while presenting the students to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olaolu Akindolire, said 108 schools across the country participated in the competition.

According to him, Ondo was the only state represented by a public school, and Saint Joseph’s College, Ondo, remained the only public secondary school that participated in the competition.

Receiving the students, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olaolu Akindolire, who is also an alumnus of the college, congratulated the students for making Ondo State and Nigeria proud.

Mr. Akindolire said the feat displayed at the competition by both students has proven critics wrong in their impression of government-owned schools.

The Commissioner explained that the Ondo State Government is presently recruiting teachers, and when the schools are fortified with these teachers, it will be an entirely different positive story for public schools across the state.

He added that the success of the students at the competition was a manifestation of the government’s genuine investments in the education sector and the efforts of all stakeholders.

The Education Commissioner commended the principal and the entire teaching staff of Saint Joseph’s College Ondo for their efforts in grooming the students and enjoined other schools across the state to follow suit.

The National Mathematics and Science Olympiad Competition was organized by the National Mathematical Centre, NMC, Abuja, to promote excellence in science subjects among secondary schools in Nigeria.

The two students, Master Akinkpelumi Samuel and Master Bamidele Raymond, will represent Nigeria at the international level of the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), scheduled to be held in the Isfahan region of Iran later in the year.Masters Akinpelu Samuel and Bamidele Raymond in photograph with Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology and their principal, Olabisi Omotayo