ROME, Italy — Three young students from Nigeria’s South East have brought international recognition to their region after winning gold medals at the Grand Finale of the International STEM Olympiad in Rome, Italy—a remarkable achievement that once again highlights the South East’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence.
The students—Chimdiebube Onwubiko, Don Anele Munachimso, and Egejurum Onyedikachi—earned the coveted gold medals after competing against some of the brightest young minds from around the world. They qualified for the global competition through the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad, with their trip to Italy sponsored by Nigerian education advocate and Educare CEO, Alex Onyia.
For many in Nigeria, the victory is more than a celebration of three exceptional students. It is another powerful reminder of a region that has, for generations, built a reputation for producing some of the country’s most outstanding scholars despite facing economic and infrastructural challenges.
Among the winners, 13-year-old Chimdiebube Onwubiko stood out not only for his gold medal but also for his extraordinary academic journey. Currently in JSS3, he has already completed Engineering Mathematics by K.A. Stroud, a textbook widely used at university level by engineering students.
Announcing the results, Onyia initially celebrated two gold medals before clarifying that a third student, Egejurum Onyedikachi, had also secured gold.
“The wait is over,” he wrote. “We have two golds… We are the best in the world,” before later adding that Onyedikachi’s name had been omitted and that he too deserved recognition for his gold-medal performance.
The students’ success also reflects the dedication of the teachers who prepared them. Onyia praised mathematics teachers Chisom Unachukwu and Anthony Iwegbu, crediting them with helping their students reach the pinnacle of international academic competition.
The gold medalists attend Evergreen Schools, Enugu, and Diamond Special College, Owerri, schools that continue to strengthen the South East’s growing reputation for excellence in science and mathematics education.
The historic moment was documented by Afia TV, an Enugu-based television station that, according to Onyia, was the only broadcaster to accompany the Nigerian delegation to Rome.
“The AfiaTV media team came to Rome with us to capture the moments,” he said. “We were prepared.”
The achievement has drawn praise across Nigeria, with many describing it as evidence of what can happen when talented students receive the right support and opportunities.
“This has shown us that anything is possible,” supporter Okpara Vitalis wrote while thanking Onyia for investing in young Nigerians. “The world isn’t that big after all.”
Beyond the celebration, the victory has reignited conversations about education in Nigeria. Onyia urged policymakers to make education a national priority, arguing that investing in talented young people remains one of the country’s greatest opportunities for future development.
For many observers, however, the story extends beyond medals. It is about a region whose commitment to learning has endured across generations. From national examinations to international academic competitions, students from Nigeria’s South East have consistently distinguished themselves, reinforcing a culture that places a high value on education, discipline and intellectual achievement.
Their triumph in Rome is the latest chapter in that story—and a reminder that when young Africans are equipped with quality education and given access to global platforms, they can compete with, and outperform, the very best in the world.
