Igbobi College named Nigeria’s best premier high school after winning quiz competition

Igbobi College, Lagos, has been awarded the “best premier high school in Nigeria” title after winning the maiden edition of the Champ High School Quiz competition.

The school beat its closest rival, CMS Grammar School in Lagos, to clinch a cash prize of N1 million at the grand finale of the competition held on August 10 at Ten0one Studios, Ikeja. 

CHSQ, which began in July, saw 32 premier secondary schools in Nigeria compete at different stages of the competition.

It started with an online test in English, Mathematics, and History.

This first stage reduced the number of participating schools to eight.  

Premier schools like CMS Grammar School, Lagos; Igbobi College, Lagos; Queen’s School, Ibadan; St. Gregory’s College, Lagos; Oriwu Model College, Ikorodu; Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo; Baptist Academy, Lagos; and Wesley College, Ibadan, made it to the second stage of the competition, which was televised. 

The quiz competition was championed by four alumni members of some pre-independence high schools in Nigeria, who are passionate about giving back to society through investment in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) education. 

Deputy MD at First Bank Gbenga Shobo, founder and executive vice-chair of Emerging Africa Group Oluwatoyin Sanni, founder of Orangeline Limited Chike Iroegbunam, and CEO of Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) Jude Chiemeka headlined the competition. 

Speaking at the presentation of the CHSQ champion award to Igbobi College on Tuesday, Ore Sofekun, consultant at theSTEMAfrica Initiatives, thanked the management of Igbobi College for discharging their duty as educators. 

She stressed the importance of alumni and parents supporting heritage schools to sustain their legacy for future generations.

Sofekun encouraged the students to persevere in STEM despite challenges.

 “We call it Champ High School because of our heritage and our legacy. Heritage because these are the schools that shaped Nigeria’s founding fathers, and legacy because we must ensure they continue to thrive for future generations,” she said. 

Adedotun Akanbi, the principal of Igbobi College, celebrated the trio of Olabode Obaloluwa, Okoronkwo David, and Lukeahizu Praise for bringing the crown home.

He said they demonstrated that the school is not just a place for imbibing morality but also a citadel of learning, first among equals. 

Abimbola Babalola, head of trading and products at Nigeria Exchange Limited, who represented Jude Chiemeka, congratulated the students on their victory and urged them to see themselves as leaders who will use their time wisely to solve the problem of humanity.  

“Students, my advice is to be a problem solver. Identify problems, identify solutions, because it’s been established all over the world that we all celebrate solution providers,” he said. 

Other dignitaries at the event are the Igbobi College PTA chairman Abiodun Makinde, external relations team lead at Bank of Industry Aishat Maibe-borodo, founder of the STEM Africa Initiatives Oladapo Ojo, and principal officers of the school. 

The CHSQ competition is produced by JustMedia Productions, under the umbrella of theSTEMAfrica Initiative, in partnership with the Bank of Industry and NGX.