Twelve Nigerian students have been ranked best in English globally among the 16 students in Nigeria recognised as ‘Top in the World’ at the 2024 Cambridge O Level and IGCSE examinations, achieving the highest standard in a single subject.
The announcement was made on Thursday at the British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards, hosted by the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment in partnership with the British Council in Lagos.
In the 2024 IGCSE June examination series, Ohimal Okoye emerged as best in English as a Second Language (Count-in-Language). For the IGCSE November series, Alvin Ebiuwhe, Amanda Enechukwu, Emmanuella Oze, Grace Sanya, Kamsiyochukwu Onochie, Kenechukwu Morayo Uba, Mercy Abilogun-Wole, Moboluwaduro Asalu, Ololade Olayinka, Tanamera Bassey and Ifunnaya Onaga were named global best in English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement).
Other Nigerians ranked ‘Top in the World’ include Babafemi Akinyera, best in English Language for Cambridge O’Level November 2024; Temidola Odufuye, best in Sociology for IGCSE June 2024; Momoreoluwa Afolabi, best in Economics for Cambridge O’Level June 2024; and Kobamoye Kobe Odum, best in Agriculture for IGCSE November 2024.
A total of 99 learners from 44 Cambridge International Schools across Nigeria received Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards at the ceremony, which also recognised winners in the ‘Top in Nigeria,’ ‘High Achievement,’ and ‘Best Across’ categories.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Regional Exams Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council, Deep Adhikari, commended Nigerian families for their commitment to education, praising the country’s strong academic culture.
“This is a testament to the solid education Nigerian parents and Nigerian families put as an investment behind their children, the encouragement they get, and the resources we provide to make them come across some of the best people in the world, and they will be the future leaders of the country.
“Nothing is more important for the Nigerian parent over education and these awards are a testament to that.
“Nigeria is our top five operation in the world and there are so many Nigerian students who are coming out as best in the world,” he said.
Adhikari also highlighted the British Council’s three strands of support for school leaders, teachers and learners, which include training programmes, leadership development, competitions and awards.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Simon Field, advised the awardees in his remarks, and said education is a powerful tool for human and national development, saying it provides the foundation for creativity.
“Education has so many benefits from wider economic development and it is the answer to lots of the world’s problems like climate change. So it is core to development, obviously,” he said.
He dismissed the notion that formal education could be replaced by online learning, warning of misinformation on the internet.
“There’s a lot of false information on the Internet and on social media.
“What an education does is it allows you to think critically, to look at multiple sources and say what is relevant and what is not,” Field said.
Also speaking, Regional Director of Cambridge International Education, Juan Visser, noted that the innovation in the future of Cambridge examinations will still be a balance of digital and paper-based formats, particularly in regions with limited access to technology like Nigeria.
“Examinations will adapt to the environment and we can see an increasing number of digital examinations that will operate in the future.
“However, we still see a very strong place for paper-based examinations, especially in a territory like Sub-Saharan Africa where the availability of IT equipment is limited,” Visser said.
He added that while digital testing will expand, Cambridge will always have a paper-based version available and is currently running mock digital exams to prepare schools.
On the role of digital skills in education, Visser stressed that technology is now inseparable from learning and work, but what is important is the ability for learners to think critically for themselves and to make sure that the human element does not fall away.
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