South-East Maths Olympiad produces world champions as Nigeria wins four golds

…as South-East Maths Olympiad produced Nigeria’s champions

Team Nigeria, represented by Chimdiebube Onwubiko, Don Munachimso, and Onyedikachi Egejurum, all products of the South-East Maths Olympiad, clinched gold at the International STEM Olympiad, earning international recognition for their exceptional performance in the global competition held in Rome.

The Nigerian team excelled at the international contest, which included the Mathematics and Science competitions, with participants from over 150 countries.

Alex Onyia, the CEO at Educare and founder of Southeast Mathematics Olympiad, made this known via his official X handle @winexviv and stated, “The wait is over. We have two golds: Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Munachimso. We are the best in the world!”

However, he later confirmed that Onyedikachi Egejurum had also been awarded a gold medal, while Munachimso secured a second gold medal in Science.

Three Nigerian students have won gold medals at the Grand Finale of the International STEM Olympiad, marking a major achievement for the country on the global academic stage.

Onyia, who sponsored the students’ participation in the competition after they emerged among the top performers at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad, further said that Munachimso is the best in world science.

“Remember, he is the best in IGCSE Chemistry in Nigeria. The investment is worth it,” Onyia stated.

In another update, he revealed that Egejurum is the best in Mathematics in the world, in the primary category. “This is the beginning of greatness for the country,” he noted.

The International STEM Olympiad, held at the Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Italy, attracted participants from more than 150 countries competing in Mathematics and Science events.

The three students, Egejurum Onyedikachi, 11-year-old, Onwubiko Chimdiebube, 13-year-old, and Don Munachimso, 17-year-old, qualified to represent Nigeria after emerging among the best contestants at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad, a competition organised by Onyia that attracted more than 11,500 participants from across the region.

Following their success at the regional competition, Onyia sponsored their participation in the International STEM Olympiad, covering the costs of their registration, visas, flights, accommodation and other travel expenses to enable them to compete in Rome.

The students, accompanied by their teachers, represented Nigeria in the primary, junior, and senior categories at the global competition.

Before the event, Onyia had expressed confidence in the team’s chances, describing the students as some of Nigeria’s brightest young minds.

Alex Onyia, sponsor of the trip and founder of Southeast Maths Olympiad, speaking about Don Munachimso, who competed in the senior category, said the student was one of the country’s finest science talents.

“He is currently the best in Chemistry for IGCSE in Nigeria. His head is filled with maths and science. He is such a gentle and well-behaved boy. He is a star.”

Besides, Onyia applauded Egejurum, who represented Nigeria in the primary Mathematics category, expressing confidence that the young prodigy could achieve a perfect score.

During the competition, Onyia revealed that Egejurum had voluntarily decided to compete in the science category despite making no prior preparations.

“Our star boy, Egejurum Onyedikachi, decided to participate again today in the International STEM Olympiad finale, science category, unprepared. We are rooting for him to win double gold,” he wrote.

The students’ participation attracted widespread attention because it came amid concerns over Nigeria’s dwindling presence at major international academic competitions.

Only weeks earlier, education stakeholders disclosed that Nigeria had been downgraded to observer status at the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad in Shanghai, China, after failing to participate in the competition for four years due to funding challenges.

When BusinessDay called the Federal Ministry of Education to enquire about the failure of the country to participate in the 2026 IMO as a result of a lack of funding, the ministry claimed to be unaware of the funding issues surrounding Nigeria’s participation.

Nigeria secured a total of four gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad, with Munachimso clinching two gold medals, including the world title in Science, while Egejurum won the world title in the Primary Mathematics category, and Onwubiko won a gold medal.