Anthony Ekene Ike-Okoro has emerged the youngest winner of the chemistry competition organised by PZ Cussons Nigeria.

At the grand finale of the PZ Cussons Carex Chemistry Challenge in Lagos, Anthony, a 14-year-old SS3 student of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos, pulled a total of 88.8 per cent in both the theory and practical sessions to beat three other finalists.

Previous winners were 16-year-olds. First was Emmanuel Ejiogu Onyekachi in 2013, who was a student of Miketoy College, Ikotun, Lagos State. Last year, it was Justin Ifeanyi Nwaoha, then a student of ISOLOG College, Ojodu, Lagos State.

In the 2015 edition, Anthony was trailed by 17-year-old Wajul Kareem of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, who recorded 75.4 per cent to finish as first runner-up.

Samuel Joseph, a 15-year-old student, also of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, came third, while Jude Nnaemeka Chineke, a 16-year-old SS3 student of Greate Esteem Secondary School, Surulere, was fourth.

Anthony Ike-Okoro, the new champion, did better than his older brother, Victor, who was the third runner-up at the inaugural edition of the competition in 2013.

As the overall winner of the competition, Anthony walked away with a cheque for N700,000, a laptop and gold medal, while his Chemistry teacher, Mr John Odinibe Nnani won N100,000. Top Grade School also won Chemistry books worth N100,000 and a trophy for the feat of its student.

Wajul, the first runner-up who had the best result in the practical session, was presented with a cheque of N500,000, a laptop and silver medal. Samuel, also a student of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, and second runner-up in the competition, won N400,000, a laptop and bronze medal.

Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, and one of its Chemistry teachers, Mr Odusanya Tolulope Joseph, got double rewards for producing both the first and second runners-up. The school received Chemistry books worth a cumulative N150,000, while the teacher had cash prize of the same amount – N80,000 for the first runner-up and N70,000 for the second runner-up.

Jude Chineke, the third runner-up, won N300,000 in cash or scholarship, a laptop and consolation medal. His Chemistry teacher, Mr Chuma Dominic, and school got N60,000 cash and Chemistry books worth the same amount.

Cash prizes of N50,000 each were also presented to the six students who made Top 10 in the build-up to the finals.

Five other students in the audience were rewarded with prizes after correctly answering questions in the Audience Quiz.

Relieved at the end of the rigorous final, Anthony expressed gratitude to God, his parents, teachers and the organisers, as well as the other finalists whom he categorised as stiff competition.

Anthony said he would like to study Electrical Engineering and, in the process, continue to give his best to win more competitions. He urged others to always work hard and thanked PZ Cussons Foundation for what he described as a “wonderful initiative.”

The competition, endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Chemical Society of Nigeria, amongst others, is in three stages. Two students from each public or private school in Lagos State go through Stage One, which is held in several centres across the state, with the best 100 progressing to the second stage, where 10 finalists emerge. However, only the Top Four will mount the stage to take up the ultimate challenge of winning the star prize.

Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, Group Corporate Affairs and Administration Director of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, said PZCCC is aimed at promoting excellence amongst secondary school students.

She said the experience in the last three years had proved that the public schools have good quality, despite contrary perception. The 2015 edition produced two students of public schools amongst the four finalists.

“When we conceived this idea, we had thought the elite schools would produce the winners,” she said. “But the competition has indeed turned out to confirm that it is all down to the individual child and his or her dedication and passion to study.”

Professor Oladele Osibanjo, the Chairman Advisory Board of PZCCC, congratulated the organisers for conceiving a project to popularise Chemistry as an important science subject that drives through their manufacturing process.

He said he was delighted to be part of the team breeding young chemists.

Other partners of the competition, which was initiated by PZ Cussons Foundation, are the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria and the National Parents Teachers' Association of Nigeria.

•Photo shows, from left; Wajul Kareem of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege and first runner; Ekene Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere, first prize winner of 2015 PZ Cussons Carex Chemistry Challenge; Samuel Joseph, also of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege and second runner-up; and Jude Chineke of Greate Esteem Secondary School, Surulere, at the grand finale in Lagos.

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