Faith Nkemakolam, a student of Lireni Schools, Lagos, has emerged as the best student in the Efiko Initiative competition.

Nkemakolam, was crowned as Efiko of Badagry at the first scholarship presentation ceremony in Badagry, Lagos, and also won a scholarship of N200,000 cash prize, and a computer set for her school.

Efiko Initiative is an educational foundation that seeks to reward academic excellence and promotes education in Nigeria.

It is the brainchild of marketing strategist and business developer, Temiloluwa Solomon, the initiative offers scholarships to outstanding students who can distinguish themselves and showcase their academic prowess. To qualify for the scholarship, students from various schools sat for a test in English Language, Mathematics, and General Knowledge while the outstanding students were rewarded.

Also, Oluwatosin Oyesomi, a student of VictoryRock Schools, Lagos,  won a scholarship prize of N100,000, as the second position.

The third position, Princewell Nwokoye a student of His Grace Schools, Lagos, bagged a scholarship prize of N50,000.

Meanwhile, Four other outstanding students won themselves a one-year scholarship in their various schools while six more got consolation prizes.

Solomon said during the scholarship presentation ceremony, that it was the first in a series of events aimed at nipping the decline of academic excellence in the country and promoting the culture of meritocracy.

Solomon advised the winner to take academic excellence more seriously, saying it was rewarding to prioritise education.

“The goal of the Efiko Initiative is to rev up the quest for knowledge among young Nigerian students while proving to them that academic excellence is still very rewarding. As the recipient of several scholarships from my primary school level to my secondary school level, I understand how far gestures like this can go in shaping the future of the younger generation,” he said.

He further stressed that in the weeks to come, the Efiko Initiative would expand its reach by taking the competition to other vicinities and also organise online quizzes that allow young students to learn, have fun, and get rewarded while doing it.