12 Nigerian Students Emerge World’s Best in English at 2024 Cambridge Exams

Twelve Nigerian students have been ranked the best globally in English at the 2024 Cambridge O’Level and IGCSE examinations, earning the prestigious ‘Top in the World’ awards.

The announcement was made on Thursday during the British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards, organised in Lagos by Cambridge University Press & Assessment in partnership with the British Council.

Among the awardees, Ohimal Okoye was recognised as best in English as a Second Language (Count-in-Language) for the June 2024 IGCSE series. For the 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 all named world’s best in English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement).

Other Nigerians also topped different subjects. Babafemi Akinyera emerged best in English Language for the November 2024 Cambridge O’Level exams, while Temidola Odufuye (Sociology, IGCSE June 2024), Momoreoluwa Afolabi (Economics, O’Level June 2024) and Kobamoye Kobe Odum (Agriculture, IGCSE November 2024) were also honoured as world’s best.

Overall, 99 students from 44 Cambridge International Schools across Nigeria received Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards, including categories such as ‘Top in Nigeria,’ ‘High Achievement’ and ‘Best Across.’

Speaking at the ceremony, Regional Exams Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council, Deep Adhikari, praised Nigerian parents for their strong investment in education.

“This is a testament to the solid education Nigerian families provide as an investment in their children. It is the encouragement they give and the resources we provide that enable them to emerge among the best in the world. These young people will be the future leaders of this country,” Adhikari said.

Also present was the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Simon Field, who stressed that education remains central to human and national development.

“Education is a powerful tool for wider economic development. It provides the foundation for creativity and is the answer to many of the world’s problems, including climate change,” Field noted.

Field also cautioned against over-reliance on online learning, warning of the dangers of misinformation on the internet.

“Education teaches you to think critically, to examine multiple sources, and to decide what is relevant. This is something social media cannot replace,” he added.

On the future of Cambridge exams, Regional Director of Cambridge International Education, Juan Visser, said the institution is working toward a balance between digital and paper-based testing.

“Examinations will adapt to the environment. We see an increasing number of digital examinations in the future, but there will continue to be a strong role for paper-based formats, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where access to IT is limited,” Visser explained.

He emphasised that while digital skills are crucial, learners must retain the ability to think critically and maintain the human element in education.