A sixteen-year-old student of Miketoy College, Lagos State, Emmanuel Ejiogu Onyekachi has emerged winner of the PZ Cussons’ Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC) maiden edition.

Onyekachi who came first at all the stage of the competition which had 1,270 candidates in stage 1, 97 in stage 2 and four finalists, outpaced the other three at the grand finale to emerge the overall winner with a total mark of 83.5% at the comptiton held in Lagos over the weekend.

He was rewarded with N700, 000 cash, a laptop, a trophy and gold medal, while his teacher, Mr. Jossy Oguniyi won N100, 000 and then chemistry books worth N100, 000 were also presented to his school.

Obi Uchenna David of Barachel College, Ifako-Agege, was the first runner up with 62.2 per cent of the total score. He was presented with a cheque of N500, 000, a laptop and silver medal, while his chemistry teacher, Mr Ojo Sunday also went home with N60, 000. His school also had chemistry books worth N50, 000.

With a cumulative score of 56 per cent, Mgbemena Thankgod of Leeland International College, Oregun-Ikeja, finished as second runner-up and got N400,000 cash prize, a laptop and bronze medal. His chemistry teacher, Mr Ugwoke Johnson Ikenna, won N40,000 while his school received N50,000 worth of chemistry books.

Third runner-up Victor Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere pulled a total of 44 per cent and had a cash prize of N300, 000, a laptop and a consolation medal while his chemistry teacher, Mr Odinibe John Nnani got N20, 000 and his school had N50,000 worth of chemistry books.

Relieved at the end of the rigorous final stage, which included a practical session, Emmanuel expressed gratitude to God, his parents, teachers and the organizers, as well as the other finalists who he said provided him stiff competition.

Emmanuel however urged PZ Cussons Foundation to incorporate other science subjects into the competition and also organize it on a national scale.