Whitesands School emerges winners of Helmbridge Science Challenge 2025

… as prize pool money hits one million naira

Whitesands School, Lekki-Lagos, has emerged winner of the 2025 Helmbridge Science Challenge, an academic competition that brought together 32 top secondary schools in Lagos State.

Whitesands School defeated fierce rivals such as Saint Finbarr’s College, Akoka, and SMAC College to emerge as the champions in a fierce competition held on Saturday, June 14, at Akoka.

For emerging the overall winners, by dethroning Saint Finbarr’s College, who were the defending champions, Whitesands secured a prize money of N500,000, while Saint Finbarr’s College, who were the first runner-up received the sum of N300,000, and SMAC College, the second runner-up, took home the prize money of N200,000.

Besides the prize money, all participating students received science textbooks, certificates, and exclusive discounts to a six-week summer science bootcamp designed to deepen their learning beyond the classroom.

Dike Wilfred, the director of Helmbridge, in his speech during the grand finale, said that the competition’s goal transcends trophies and cash.

“This is not only about winning. It is also about stretching these boys beyond their current curriculum, into advanced scientific thinking, and giving them a head start before tertiary education,” he said.

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Over 250 students from SS1 to SS3 took part in the challenge, tackling questions as advanced as A-level physics and chemistry over a rigorous seven-week series.

The annual science challenge is organised by Helmbridge Study Centre and sponsored by the Fagbule Family in memory of Adigun and Victoria Fagbule, alongside Zedcrest Wealth. This year’s challenge saw a record participation of 32 schools out of 50 invited, battling for one million naira in prize money.

Beyond a trophy: Designed for lifelong impact and character formation

The Helmbridge Science Challenge, which was established nearly five decades ago, has grown into a cultural institution for Lagos-based boys’ schools, instilling discipline, public speaking confidence, academic depth, and ethical behaviour.

This year, the competition ran every Friday and Saturday between May and June, culminating in a tense grand finale that saw Whitesands School reclaim the title from Saint Finbarr’s College who had won the last two competitions in a row.

Faruq Oladimeji, the quiz-master, reflected on the intensity of this year’s matches, saying, “The semifinal between WhiteSands and SMAC College had everyone on edge. Even the teachers were contesting answers. The finals were five rounds of pure logic, speed, and strategic play.”

In a dramatic moment, a student challenged a mathematics question mid-round, forcing a live review by the quiz-master before proceeding. “That level of boldness and analytical reasoning is what this challenge was designed to cultivate,” he added.

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In addition, Wilfred emphasised that beyond bragging rights, the competition provides academic leverage for students.

“Many of our students go on to top engineering and science programs in Nigeria and abroad.

“They enter the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and/or Advanced-levels more prepared, more confident, and with a sense of purpose,” he said.

Moreover, he revealed that over the years, many past winners of the competition have emerged as doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Building the next generation, one contest at a time

According to the organisers, this year marked a turning point for Helmbridge, the organisers, doubling down on improving participation and exposure, using platforms like Twitter to engage parents, schools, and sponsors.

With growing interest, there is talk of televising the event or streaming it online in 2026.

“Many parents and alumni are asking us, ‘Can we watch this live?’ That tells you how far we’ve come,” Wilfred said.

Helmbridge also boosted the best audience award from N20,000 last year to N50,000 this year.

Fola Fagbule, who spoke on behalf of the Fagbule family, emphasised that the competition goes beyond merely rewarding students for brilliance.

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“This isn’t just about rewarding brilliance, it’s about showing young Nigerians that academic excellence, especially in science, still matters and can open doors to a future filled with innovation and leadership,” Fola stressed.

Similarly, Wilfred buttressed the vision when he said, “The Science Challenge is more than a competition, it is a pipeline for disciplined, brilliant young minds who’ll shape the future.”

Furthermore, he disclosed that as preparations begin for the landmark 45th edition, the Helmbridge legacy is only just beginning to shine on a national stage.

“The next year’s 45th anniversary will feature expanded outreach, higher stakes, and deeper partnerships with institutions that believe in youth empowerment through STEM,” he added.