InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition 8.0

InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition 8.0; Registration has opened for the InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition 8.0, one of the largest STEM competitions for secondary school students in Nigeria.

The competition is organised by Interswitch and offers over ₦40 million worth of university scholarships and other rewards for outstanding science students across the country. According to the organisers, the programme is designed to identify, nurture, and reward talented science students in Nigerian secondary schools while promoting excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

InterswitchSPAK 8.0 Registration Deadline

Registration for the competition is currently open and will close at 11:59 PM on Friday, 22 May 2026.

The registration process is completely free, allowing eligible schools and students to participate without paying any fee.

Who Can Register for InterswitchSPAK 8.0?

Secondary schools are allowed to register up to twenty SS2 science students for the competition.

However, each participating school must register at least six students to take part in the contest.

For mixed schools, the registration must include at least two female students among the candidates. This gender requirement is part of the entry conditions and must be met before the registration can be completed.

Students can apply through the official InterswitchSPAK registration portal.

Online Exam Date and Time

The qualifying examination for InterswitchSPAK 8.0 will be conducted entirely online.

Candidates can take the Computer-Based Test (CBT) from their schools, homes, or any other suitable location, meaning there is no need to travel to a physical examination centre.

The online examination will run from Tuesday, 9 June to Tuesday, 16 June 2026, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM each day.

Participants are free to choose any day and time within this period. Each registered student will also have two opportunities to take the CBT, with the system automatically selecting the higher score.

Before the examination begins, candidates will go through a five-minute demonstration session to help them become familiar with the testing platform.

Stages of the Competition

The competition will take place in multiple stages.

At the first stage, all registered candidates will participate in the online qualifying examination.

Students who score 75 percent or higher in the first round will advance to the next stage of the online qualifying examination. From this stage, the top 81 students will qualify for the second stage of the competition, which will feature the televised quiz show segment of the programme.

Scholarship Prizes for Top Students

The competition offers significant academic rewards for the highest-performing students.

First Prize

The first-place winner will receive:

A five-year university scholarship with annual stipend worth ₦15,000,000
A brand-new laptop
National recognition as the best science student in Nigeria

Second Prize

The second-place winner will receive:

A five-year university scholarship with annual stipend worth ₦10,000,000
A brand-new laptop

Third Prize

The third-place winner will receive:

A five-year university scholarship worth ₦5,000,000
A brand-new laptop

What the Organisers Say About the Competition

According to the organisers, the competition aims to encourage Nigerian youths to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

By recognising academic excellence and innovative thinking, the initiative seeks to develop a new generation of leaders capable of driving technological advancement in Nigeria and beyond. Since its launch, the InterswitchSPAK programme has attracted thousands of students from secondary schools across the country, maintaining a strong national presence.