Though he did not emerge with a gold medal at the recently concluded PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge, Samuel Oyelami, a Senior Secondary School 2 pupil
of Tomia Community Secondary School, Alagbado, Lagos, left with his head high as the first runner up in a contest which recorded more than 3,000 entries from
public and private schools in Lagos State.

Oyelami, in company with 14-year-old Justin Anyika from Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, were the only two
finalists from public schools. A pupil of New Hall International School, Lekki, Lagos, Dara Ogunmola, won the contest.

But, this is not the first time pupils from public schools have put up a good fight in the annual competition. In 2016, 17-year-
old Wajul Kareem of Abibat Mogaji
Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, and Jude Chineke of the same school emerged second and third in the contest.

And though 16-year-old Justin Nwaoha of the Isolog College, Ojodu, Lagos State, won the 2015 edition of the challenge, Jamiu
Animashaun of Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, emerged the first runner-up while the third runner-up was Jeremiah Onu of Festac Senior College, Festac, Lagos.

Speaking to our correspondent, the Principal, Tomia Community Secondary School, Mrs. Kovie Alagbe, said that public school pupils could do as well as their
counterparts in private schools.

“I joined this school in October last year and I made sure I encouraged teachers and pupils to be confident. We have quality teachers and we groomed our
pupils to be outstanding in the
competition. Our pupils have won some awards in the past but this is the first time our pupils will come this far in this particular competition,’’ she said.

For Mr. Ademola Adebiyi, a Chemistry teacher with Federal Government College Ijanikin, Lagos, Anyika’s performance has
shown that public school pupils can win the top prize of the contest next year.

“This is the first time my school will participate in the competition and, for me, it is a huge success. Justin is just 14 years old and he is very intelligent. I thought he
was going to win. At a stage, I even doubted if I understand Chemistry when I saw the way he handled the questions.

Justin is an introvert and even when other pupils went on holiday, he stayed back and we coached him. We met with him
everyday for coaching. I am sure that a pupil from a public school will win next year,’’ he said.

According to the Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Yomi Ifaturoti, the 2017 edition of the
competition, themed, Be A Winner, was designed to stimulate and inspire the learning of Chemistry among pupils and
raise their level of reasoning to
demonstrate the importance of chemistry in the society.

While Justin was awarded with a
N700,000 cash prize, laptop, N100,000 was presented to his teacher and N100,000 worth of laboratory equipment for his school. Aside from computers,
Oyelami and Anyika were awarded N450,000 and N350, 000 respectively.

SOURCE: www.dailyschoolgist.com.ng/2017/05/again-public-school-pupils-shine-in-chemistry-competition/