In Nigeria, the sound of drums, jubilant cheers, and national pride often fill the air whenever our athletes return from an international competition with medals.
From football tournaments to track and field events, sportsmen and women are celebrated as national heroes, sometimes with presidential receptions, cash rewards, and national honours.
While such recognition is commendable, many believe it is time the country extended the same level of appreciation to those who excel in academics.
These are individuals whose intellectual brilliance in science, technology, innovation, literature, and other fields have also brought glory to the nation, yet often goes unnoticed.
In a chat with Engineer Olatunde Samuel, a disciplinarian and one of the old students of Saint Joseph College Ondo said honouring academic champions could inspire the younger generation to value knowledge and scholarship as much as they value athletic skill.
He added that Nigerian students have, in recent years, won global competitions in mathematics, robotics, debate, and engineering design.
Yet, many of these achievements pass quietly, without fanfare or reward.
“When a Nigerian wins gold in sports, the entire country celebrates. But when a Nigerian student tops an international science fair, it’s often mentioned briefly in the news, and then forgotten.
That sends the wrong message to our youths about what our society values most.”
In this light, I appeal to Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as well as private organisations, to recognise Samuel Opeyemi Akinpelumi, a student of Saint. Joseph College, Ondo, who represented Nigeria at the 2025 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in France.
Competing among students from over 84 countries, he emerged among the top three, a truly outstanding feat.
Akinpelumi returned to Ondo State with an international prize and a prestigious one-year mentorship with Thales, a global technology leader.
Sadly, his remarkable achievement went largely unnoticed by both state and federal authorities. Dr. Marko of Thales described him as “an extraordinary student who must be encouraged.”
According to him: "this young genius has not only made Ondo State proud globally but has also written the Sunshine State’s name in gold worldwide.
His excellence is not by chance, he has a history of exceptional performance.
In 2023, he won the Ekimogun Youth Connect Mathematics Competition and Scholarship Awards. That same year, he emerged third best at the National Mathematical Centre’s Nigeria Mathematical Olympiad, earning a Certificate of Merit."
"Also in 2023, he won the Best Student in English Award from the Saint. Joseph College Old Boys 1993 Set.
His brilliance continued in 2024 when he became the overall best student at the National Olympiad Competition, leading to his appointment as Prep Ambassador by the Daramola Adeosun Foundation (DAF).
He also showcased his intellectual mastery at the Simbiat Adeyeye Quiz Competition."
This is not an isolated case. In 2023, a team of Nigerian secondary school students stunned the world by winning the International Robotics Competition in Geneva, Switzerland.
Their innovative automated irrigation system drew global praise, yet at home, the recognition paled in comparison to that given to sports stars.
Creating a culture that celebrates academic success will inspire more young people to pursue excellence in research, innovation, and knowledge creation.
Such achievements could lead to solutions for pressing challenges in healthcare, energy, and technology.
Parents and educators are now calling on government bodies, corporate organisations, and the media to give academic achievers equal visibility and incentives, through national awards, scholarships, and public recognition ceremonies.
Sports will always hold a special place in our hearts, but the mind is also a powerful tool for nation-building. It’s time to celebrate our thinkers the same way we celebrate our athletes.
As Nigeria continues to nurture talents in all fields, expanding the celebration of excellence beyond sports will help build a more balanced, forward-looking society, one where both the body and the mind are equally honoured.
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