Girls urged to excel in STEM subjects as InterswitchSPAK 2.0 opens

LAGOS, Nigeria – Girls in Senior Secondary School, SS 2, have been advised to participate more in the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, subjects against the backdrop that technology can help solve societal problems.

According to Enyioma Ababa, Group Head, Brands at Interswitch, “In today’s world, problem solving is what is needed to create opportunities. As such, if one is a problem solver, there won’t be need searching for jobs as you’re better equipped to take on challenges headlong. Female students can do more, and should be encouraged to do more, participate more and stretch themselves more to compete with their male counterparts in today’s learning environment.”

Anaba’s remarks came as the organisation is again set to reward excellence in STEM subjects among secondary school students in the second edition of the InterswitchSPAK National Science competition. 

The competition, which is targeted at SS 2 students aged between 14 and 17 years, is a CSR initiative of the company.

The competition, which is focused on driving increased interest in the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, STEM, subjects among Senior Secondary School students across Nigeria, will kick off with a national qualifying examination from which 81 finalists will emerge to compete at the InterswitchSPAK TV quiz competition.

The InterswitchSPAK programme includes a Masterclass, an Innovation Challenge and a TV quiz competition around STEM subjects. 

The aim of InterswitchSPAK is to encourage and guide the students along career paths that will help them achieve full optimisation of their potentials and dreams to become inventors or entrepreneurs.

Cherry Eromosele, Group Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Interswitch, encouraged all eligible students to participate and register in this second edition. She noted that the importance of STEM education cannot be over-emphasised in our society; especially considering our current societal challenges.

She said: “At Interswitch we understand that technology is key to solving most of our challenges in Africa. Promoting and rewarding excellence in STEM subjects among secondary school students is our way of preparing the younger generation to take up this challenge.”

Speaking on the registration process, Anaba, explained further that the competition is open to girls and boys in public and private secondary schools in Nigeria, aged between 14 and 17 years. She added that new schools were required to first register on the InterswitchSPAK platform before registering their students, while returning schools could directly register their students. Each such school is expected to register six students each, at least two of which must be girls.

Click here to register online

The overall winner will be awarded a five-year scholarship in any tertiary institution, a laptop, a gold trophy and monthly stipends throughout the duration of the scholarship, all totaling N7.5 million. The second-place winner will be awarded a three-year scholarship, a laptop, a silver trophy and monthly stipends for the three years totaling N4 million; while the third place winner will receive a year-long scholarship worth N1 million, a laptop, and a bronze trophy.