InterswitchSPAK 2.0 is promoting, rewarding excellence in STEM, says Eromosele

The overriding importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in human and national growth has recently prompted series of programmes and initiatives around STEM.This informed the decision of Interswitch Group, a leading Nigerian Pan-African digital payment and commerce solutions company, to institute a science competition among secondary school students.

The 2019 exercise tagged “InterswitchSPAK 2.0,” which is part of the corporate social responsibility initiative of the company is targeted at SS 2 students between ages 14 and 17.

The overall winner will be awarded a five-year scholarship in any tertiary institution, a laptop, a gold trophy and monthly stipend throughout the duration of the scholarship, all totaling N7.5million.

The second-place winner will be awarded a three-year scholarship, a laptop, a silver trophy and monthly stipend for three years totaling N4million; while the third place winner will receive a year-long scholarship worth N1 million, a laptop, and a bronze trophy.

Group Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele, who spoke during the call for entry for the 2019 exercise, said the competition is focused on driving increased interest in the study of STEM subjects among senior secondary school students across the country.

She said the contest would kick off with a national qualifying examination, from which 81 finalists will emerge to compete at the InterswitchSPAK TV quiz competition.

The competition, she added includes a master class; an innovation challenge and a TV quiz competition around STEM subjects, while the overall aim is to encourage and guide the students along career paths that will help them achieve their dreams of becoming inventors or entrepreneurs.

“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, Group Head, Brands, Enyioma Anaba, said the competition is open to girls and boys in public and private secondary schools in Nigeria. She said new schools are required to first register on the InterswitchSPAK platform before registering their students, while returning schools can directly register their students.Each school is expected to register six students each, at least two of which must be girls. Registration is done online at www.interswitchspak.com