Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Fifty-nine students of Comprehensive Senior High School, Alapere, Lagos State, have scored above 70 per cent in a chemistry challenge that tested their ability to reproduce the periodic table from memory, highlighting efforts to strengthen science education and practical learning among secondary school students.
The exercise formed part of the school’s Chemistry Challenge Day, an educational initiative designed to improve students’ understanding of chemistry, encourage scientific curiosity and demonstrate the importance of applying classroom knowledge to real-life situations.
According to a report published by Punch, 59 out of 70 participating students achieved scores above 70 per cent, while the remaining 11 students scored below the mark.
The challenge required students to reproduce the periodic table without relying on reference materials, testing their knowledge of chemical elements, their arrangement and the structure of one of the most important foundations of chemistry.
The performance was also an opportunity to demonstrate how interactive academic activities can encourage students to develop confidence in science subjects and improve their understanding beyond conventional classroom instruction.
Chemistry Challenge Combines Academic Knowledge With Practical Learning
The Chemistry Challenge Day went beyond the periodic table writing exercise, incorporating practical demonstrations, interactive learning sessions and discussions on the relevance of chemistry in everyday life and industrial development.
The programme, held on October 28, 2026, provided students with opportunities to explore how scientific principles are applied outside the classroom.
According to The Guardian, the competition included a periodic table arrangement and puzzle challenge for Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) students, alongside the periodic table writing exercise for Senior Secondary School One (SS1) students.
The results showed that 59 of the 70 participants scored above the 70 per cent benchmark, representing approximately 84.3 per cent of the participating students.
The assessment was conducted by Ajijola Bamidele, Chairman of the Chemistry Teachers Association of Nigeria (CHETAN), Education District II, Maryland, Lagos, alongside members of the association’s executive committee.
The involvement of chemistry educators in assessing the exercise provided an opportunity to evaluate students’ understanding of the subject through activities that required them to demonstrate their knowledge rather than depend solely on conventional examinations.
School Introduces Students to Chemistry-Based Products
Another important feature of the event was its emphasis on practical skills and entrepreneurship.
Students participated in chemical demonstrations and displayed seven chemistry-related products developed through skills acquisition training.
The products included paint, whiteboard marker ink, toilet wash, liquid detergent and bleach, among other items.
Chemistry educator at the school, Akindele Faosiyat, explained that the initiative was established to deepen students’ interest in chemistry through mastery of the periodic table and practical activities.
She encouraged participants to build on their achievements by developing creativity and practical abilities that could support future employment and self-employment opportunities.
The initiative reflects an approach to science education that connects theoretical knowledge with practical applications.
Rather than limiting chemistry lessons to chemical symbols, equations and classroom explanations, the programme exposed students to processes involved in producing everyday household and industrial materials.
This approach can help students understand the relationship between scientific knowledge, technological development and economic activities.
Chemistry Teachers and Education Experts Highlight Importance of Science
The event also featured contributions from education professionals and industry representatives who discussed the importance of chemistry in academic development and the wider economy.
The school’s principal, Adedeji Adesanmi Olumuyiwa, commended the Department of Science for organising the programme, describing it as an opportunity to promote scientific knowledge, creativity, practical learning and innovation.
He expressed the hope that Chemistry Challenge Day would become a permanent feature of the school’s academic activities.
The principal also encouraged teachers from other departments to support the initiative and help sustain its objectives.
A senior lecturer at Yaba College of Technology and Chairman of the Chemistry Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Dr Oluseun Popoola, highlighted the importance of chemistry education for students interested in pursuing science-related courses at tertiary institutions.
She encouraged students to combine formal education with practical competencies and other relevant skills.
Popoola also identified digital, vocational and soft skills as important areas for young people seeking to improve their future opportunities.
Among the opportunities she highlighted were content creation and other digital activities that could enable young people to participate in the growing digital economy.
She also encouraged students to consider vocational skills such as fashion design, tailoring, plumbing and sanitary engineering.
Her message emphasised that academic qualifications and practical competencies can complement each other in preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship and independent careers.
Industry Expert Explains Chemistry’s Role in Industrial Development
The relationship between chemistry education and industrial development was another major subject discussed during the programme.
Abdul Gafar Adeleye Tijani, Managing Director of Fundamental Technology Limited, spoke about the application of chemistry in industrial production.
He explained that chemists contribute to different stages of industrial operations, including identifying and evaluating raw materials, developing production processes, creating products and conducting quality control.
These responsibilities demonstrate why chemistry remains relevant across manufacturing and other industrial sectors.
Chemical knowledge is essential in the production and testing of materials used in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, sanitation, construction and consumer goods.
For students, understanding these applications can provide a clearer picture of the career opportunities available through studying chemistry.
The discussions also encouraged students to approach science with curiosity and develop an interest in understanding how products and industrial processes work.
Chemistry Educator Calls for Greater Support
The convener of the initiative and the school’s chemistry educator, Akindele Faosiyat Abidemi, called for greater support to expand the programme and strengthen practical science education.
She urged government authorities and philanthropists to support initiatives that expose students to scientific knowledge and practical competencies.
Her appeal highlighted the importance of sustained investment in educational programmes that encourage young people to develop problem-solving abilities and entrepreneurial skills.
The event also marked the launch of the school’s skills acquisition programme, which is intended to expose students to practical activities beyond their regular academic curriculum.
Radio Nigeria Lagos reported that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-life applications, particularly because some students perceive chemistry as difficult or abstract.
Why the Chemistry Challenge Matters for Nigerian Education
The achievement of the 59 students offers an encouraging example of how schools can use academic competitions to promote interest in science education.
Nigeria’s development in areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, technology and industrial production depends partly on the availability of young people equipped with scientific knowledge and relevant technical skills.
Chemistry plays an important role in these sectors, from the development of medicines and agricultural inputs to the production of household materials and industrial chemicals.
However, students may find it difficult to appreciate these applications when science education is limited to theoretical explanations and examination preparation.
Activities such as periodic table competitions, laboratory demonstrations and student-led product exhibitions can help make scientific concepts more accessible.
They can also encourage teamwork, independent learning, creativity and confidence.
The Lagos school initiative therefore provides an example of how practical educational activities can complement formal classroom teaching.
Nevertheless, sustaining such programmes requires adequate laboratory facilities, qualified teachers, learning materials and institutional support.
Schools also need opportunities to connect students with universities, research institutions and industries where they can gain a better understanding of how scientific knowledge is used professionally.
What Happens Next?
The school leadership has expressed its intention to make Chemistry Challenge Day a lasting academic tradition.
The continued involvement of teachers, education stakeholders and industry professionals will be important in maintaining the programme and expanding its impact.
The newly introduced skills acquisition programme also provides an opportunity to build on the practical activities demonstrated during the event.
Further government and private-sector support could help strengthen similar initiatives and create opportunities for more students to participate in science competitions and practical learning programmes.
For now, the performance of the 59 students provides a positive example of student engagement with science education in Lagos State.
The broader challenge for Nigerian schools will be to ensure that academic achievements are supported by sustained investment in practical education, scientific facilities and opportunities for young people to apply their knowledge.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers – Lagos Students Show Periodic Table Mastery at Chemistry Challenge. Punch Newspapers
- The Guardian Nigeria – With Student Competition, Lagos School Takes Chemistry Beyond Classroom. The Guardian Nigeria
- Radio Nigeria Lagos – Kosofe School Hosts Chemistry Challenge to Inspire Future Scientists and Innovators. Radio Nigeria Lagos
