Forty public primary school pupils in Lagos State have qualified for the grand finale of the SweetThinkers Scholarship and Academic Excellence Competition, an initiative aimed at supporting brilliant pupils through secondary and tertiary education.
The competition, organised by SweetThinkers Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, began with over 2,000 pupils drawn from public primary schools across the 20 local government areas of the state.
After a rigorous first stage, 200 pupils progressed to the second phase held across centres in Lagos Island, Oshodi, and Maryland, before 40 finalists emerged.
The 40 qualifiers comprise 20 pupils from Lagos West District, 10 from Lagos East, and 10 from Lagos Central, based on performance and the distribution of candidates across zones.
At the Maryland School Complex, Ikeja, where one of the centres was held, the Convener of SweetThinkers Initiative, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olaniwun, said the programme was created to reward excellence among pupils from low-income backgrounds.
According to her, the competition is not only about academic assessment but also about discovering and nurturing young talents.
“We have bright stars, like diamonds in the rough, and what we are looking for is picking them out,” she said.
She noted that the winners will receive scholarships covering their secondary and university education, along with mentorship and cash gifts to further encourage their academic growth.
Olaniwun explained that the NGO will continue to support public education by providing learning resources and improving infrastructure in selected schools to enhance academic performance.
“We plan to mentor them and provide support in any way we can to help them excel academically,” she added.
Also speaking, SweetThinkers Project Manager, Oluwatosin Akinola, said the initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education and reflects the organisation’s commitment to improving learning outcomes in public schools.
She explained that the competition promotes confidence, speed, excellence, and accuracy among young learners, preparing them for future academic challenges.
“This stage marks a significant milestone on the journey to the grand finale where pupils showcase their knowledge, confidence, and potential,” Akinola said.
A teacher at Federal Housing Estate Nursery and Primary School, Victoria Island, Mr. Bamigbade Olamilekan, commended the initiative, saying it reinforces academic culture in public schools and inspires pupils to strive for excellence.
Some of the participating pupils expressed excitement and gratitude, describing the experience as challenging and rewarding, and appealed to SweetThinkers to sustain the programme for future cohorts.
