A 15-year-old student of Anchor Springfield School, Lagos, Ms. Adekunle Aliyah, has emerged as the overall winner of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI) 2025 Annual Award and Scholars’ Day quiz competition, securing an impressive score of 84 percent in the highly competitive contest.
Held in Lagos, the event attracted 197 participants from 63 schools across the state. Munachi Emmanuella of Orisumibare Senior High School claimed the second position, while Muhammed Beyioku of Minbar-Minds College placed third with a score of 82 percent. Other top performers included Omobolanle Akanji and Daniel Adeh of Dansol High School, who both scored 80 percent, and Maryam Sideeqah Muyili of Minbar-Minds College, who achieved 78 percent.
Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Taiwo Fagbemi, praised the organisers for their dedication to youth development and described the event’s theme, “Redefining Academic Excellence in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” as timely and forward-looking.
“It’s inspiring to see our young people engaging with the opportunities AI presents. While innovation carries risks, AI, when used creatively, holds immense potential to help young minds achieve extraordinary things,” he said.
Guest of Honour and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Tunji Sarafa Isola, highlighted the critical role of education in national development. He expressed concern over how illiteracy and poverty continue to hinder Nigeria’s democratic progress, noting that education remains the most powerful tool for social and political transformation.
“What you have done here today, recognising and celebrating academic excellence, is a noble and inspiring gesture,” he stated.
Delivering the keynote address, Tunde Aborode, Research Director at the Healthy Africans Platform in the United States, spoke on the practical applications of AI in sourcing and applying for scholarships. He explained how AI can simplify the search for opportunities, match students’ profiles with suitable programs, and assist in refining application materials.
“AI can help you only if you help yourself. Know your story first—AI can enhance it, but it cannot write it for you,” Aborode said. He added that AI tools can also help applicants prepare for interviews by generating potential questions drawn from publicly available data about past scholarship recipients and online platforms. He emphasised that using AI responsibly can give students a significant advantage in securing both local and international funding.
Beyond the quiz competition, AEI—a non-governmental organisation—also provides weekly coaching sessions, leadership development, and youth orientation programmes. This year’s event featured additional remarks from Dr. Nasir Baba-Ahmed, CEO of Octagon Cybersecurity in France, and Prince Michael Adewoye, Director of Racy and Sturdy Schools in Lagos, who offered career guidance and encouragement to the students.
Winners received cash prizes and certificates of recognition, as AEI reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the next generation of Nigerian leaders.
