Three Nigerian students who won gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad in Rome, Italy, have received a ₦1 million cash reward from a United States-based Nigerian engineer, Dr Michael Taiwo. The donation recognises their outstanding performance on the global stage.
Dr Taiwo, a hydrogen specialist based in the United States, announced the reward shortly after education advocate Alex Onyia shared news of the students’ success. He fulfilled the promise within hours, earning praise from education stakeholders and supporters of gifted learning.
Students Bring Glory to Nigeria
The Nigerian team comprised Chimdiebube Onwubiko, Don Anele Munachimso and Egejurum Onyedikachi. They won four gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad held in Rome. Students from more than 150 countries participated in the competition.
Shortly after the results were announced, Dr Taiwo congratulated the students and promised to reward them.
“This is an impressive achievement. Congratulations. I will be gifting these lads with 1M. Please DM me the bank details.”
Earlier, Onyia celebrated the team’s remarkable performance on social media.
“The wait is over. We have two golds: Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Anele Munachimso. We are the best in the world!”
He later confirmed that 11-year-old Egejurum Onyedikachi also won a gold medal in the primary Mathematics category. Don Anele added another gold medal in Science, bringing his personal total to two.
Taiwo Redeems His Promise
A few hours after making the pledge, Dr Taiwo transferred the ₦1 million reward to the students.
Meanwhile, Innocent Chukwudubem, a community advocate for the Southeast-focused ISEE project, confirmed that the beneficiaries had received the money. He also shared evidence of the transfer on X.
“Promise made, promise kept. I am here to announce that Dr Michael Taiwo has fulfilled his promise of supporting the STEM Olympiad lads with the 1M. Doc na talk and do. Thank you sir. Thank you Alex Onyia for your sacrifice and commitment to the ISEE project.”
The gesture drew widespread praise from many Nigerians. Many described it as a powerful example of how private citizens can encourage academic excellence and inspire young learners.
How the Students Reached the Global Stage
The three students are aged 11, 13 and 17. They qualified for the international competition after emerging among the best performers at the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad.
The regional contest attracted more than 11,500 participants. Alex Onyia organised the competition to identify exceptional young talents in mathematics and science.
In addition, Onyia sponsored the students’ trip to Rome. He paid for their registration fees, visa applications, flight tickets, accommodation and other travel expenses. His support enabled them to represent Nigeria at the global event.
Taiwo’s Longstanding Support for Education
Dr Taiwo is a Nigerian-born chemical engineer. He earned a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas and currently works as a senior hydrogen specialist at Shell USA.
Beyond the cash reward, he has spent years supporting academically gifted students. In 2019, he founded the Michael Taiwo Scholarships to help brilliant but financially disadvantaged students pursue graduate education abroad.
Since then, the initiative has supported hundreds of scholars. It has also attracted tens of thousands of applications from students across developing countries.
Why the Achievement Matters
The students’ success comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s education sector. Many education stakeholders have expressed concern about the country’s declining participation in international academic competitions.
Earlier this year, reports indicated that Nigeria was downgraded to observer status at the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad in Shanghai after years of limited participation caused by funding challenges.
For this reason, the victory in Rome has attracted national attention. It shows that Nigerian students can compete with the world’s best when they receive the right support and opportunities.
Education advocates have continued to call for greater investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. They believe stronger support will help more young Nigerians achieve similar success in future international competitions.
Read also: Three Nigerian Students Compete With 150 Countries at Global STEM Olympiad
