Sterling Bank Partners Educare to Nurture Young Science, Maths Talents in South-East

Funmi Ogundare

Sterling Bank has partnered with Educare to sponsor the South East Mathematics and Science Olympiad, an initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing exceptional young talents while promoting interest in science and mathematics among students in the region.
The initiative, which seeks to strengthen academic excellence and equip young Nigerians with skills to compete in an increasingly knowledge-driven world, was formally announced at a signing ceremony held at the bank’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos.
The partnership comes amid projections that Nigeria’s child population will increase by 8.5 per cent to approximately 130 million by 2034, according to UNICEF’s 2026 report on public finance for basic education, citing United Nations population projections.
With the growing demand for quality education, the initiative is expected to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills, and compete beyond conventional classroom assessments.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sterling Bank’s Chief Growth Officer, Edward Ogunmekan, explained that the partnership reflected the bank’s belief that Nigerian students had the potential to compete globally if given the right opportunities.
“We have seen Nigerian children go out into the world and achieve extraordinary things. That tells us that what is missing is not talent, but opportunity. A platform like the South East Olympiad provides that opportunity, and that is why we are here,” he said.
Ogunmekan added that creating opportunities for young people to demonstrate their abilities was essential to nurturing the next generation of innovators, professionals and leaders.
The Chief Executive Officer of Educare, Alex Onyia, described the collaboration as an opportunity to expand access to initiatives that challenge young people intellectually and recognise academic excellence.
He also stressed the importance of private sector participation in educational development, noting that investment in the next generation was critical to the country’s future.
“If you care about educating the next generation, it means you genuinely care about the country that gives you the opportunity to do business. That is what makes this partnership with Sterling Bank particularly meaningful,” Onyia said.
“The hope of our civilisation is in this coming generation, and we have to invest in them as if nothing else matters.”
Also speaking, Sterling Bank’s Group Head, Education Finance, Yonodu Okeugo, said the Olympiad went beyond competition to identifying institutions that were producing exceptional talents and understanding the factors behind their success.
“The Olympiad is not just about competition. It is about inspiring excellence, identifying the schools and institutions nurturing exceptional talent, understanding what they are doing differently and finding ways to replicate those successes across Nigeria and beyond,” she said.
The Olympiad , Okeugo noted, builds on Sterling Bank’s existing partnership with Educare through the Sterling Online Maths quiz competition, which has provided students across the country with opportunities to demonstrate their mathematical abilities and compete for recognition and prizes.
“The latest initiative expands the collaboration to include science, providing another platform for students to test their knowledge and compete with their peers.
She said the initiative aligned with its broader commitment to education through financial solutions for educational institutions and strategic interventions designed to improve learning outcomes and expand opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Education is one of the priority sectors under Sterling Bank’s HEART strategy, which focuses on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation.”