By Idowu Bankole

In July 2022, Eshiobomhe Sigmus Aimofumhe, co-founder of the trailblazing student-led organisation AceMath, launched a bold and life-changing initiative in Nigeria aimed at expanding access to STEM education for high school juniors and seniors from low-income families.

Driven by a deep belief in the power of education to shape lives, Sigmus and his team at AceMath designed a platform that bridges the gap between high school and higher education for students passionate about life sciences.

Their approach blends innovation, mentorship, and real financial support to help prepare the next generation of Nigerian scientists, particularly in areas like biology, bioinformatics, and biomedical research.

When asked what sparked the creation of AceMath, Sigmus shared that the idea grew from a desire to break the long-standing barriers in science education across Nigeria. Alongside his co-founder, Winner Igbogbo, he organised a national STEM hackathon that encouraged problem-solving, critical thinking, and scientific exploration.

This remarkable event reached over 150 students from Lagos, Abuja, and Niger, many of whom came from families earning less than 500,000 naira yearly, an amount that struggles to meet even basic needs. For these young people, the hackathon was not just a competition but a rare chance to explore the world of science with tools and guidance they had never known.

The hackathon, held in Abuja in partnership with HOPE for African Children, a nonprofit organization committed to expanding access to educational opportunities to underserved communities, was designed as an intensive one-week experience. Students formed teams and tackled real-world challenges in fields like biomedical research and agriculture.

Their projects included creative solutions for malaria diagnosis, genome tracking in farming, and tools for COVID-19 contact tracing. Sigmus and the AceMath team brought together 12 volunteer mentors, most of whom were graduate students and working professionals in data science and computational biology. Under their guidance, the students learned essential skills such as coding with Python, using Biopython for biological data, and visualizing data for practical use in solving health problems in Nigeria.

Along with Sigmus and Winner Igbogbo, a distinguished panel of judges, including faculty and leaders from the School for the Gifted, University of Ibadan Medical School, and the Christian Medical and Dental Association in Ebonyi, reviewed the student projects.

The top teams received cash prizes, electronic devices, and scientific calculators to continue their learning journey. But what truly set AceMath apart was its commitment to the future of these young scientists. Sigmus and his team established a scholarship fund worth 1.5 million naira to support students pursuing university education in STEM fields.

The scholarship covered application fees, tuition assistance, and essential study materials, lifting a huge financial burden off families who could not afford such costs.

The impact of this investment is already clear. Six students from the hackathon have received scholarships and now study in top Nigerian universities. Faith Eze, for example, is pursuing Molecular Biology at the University of Ibadan, while Uche Omame has joined the bioinformatics program at the Federal University of Technology in Akure. These students come from marginalized backgrounds where such opportunities were once impossible dreams. Today, they stand as proof that with support and opportunity, young minds can rise and thrive.

Feedback from the hackathon showed that over 80 percent of participants left with a stronger desire to pursue STEM careers. More than half had never experienced a science competition before, nor touched computational biology tools. The event opened new doors of knowledge and confidence.

With its Nigerian success story as proof of concept, AceMath is ready to help young people across continents discover their potential in science. This initiative is not just preparing students for college but also empowering them to contribute to solutions for global health, environmental challenges, and technological progress.

AceMath reflects what is possible when young leaders like Sigmus take bold action. Through direct support, financial investment, and a passion for equity, he has helped open new paths for students who had few chances before.

As AceMath prepares to expand its reach, its mission remains clear: to show that with the right opportunity, every young person, no matter where they come from, can become a problem solver, an innovator, and a leader in building a better future.