Education advocate Alex Onyia has dismissed allegations of ethnic bias in the selection of students for the International STEM Olympiad in Rome, describing claims circulating on social media as false and misleading.
In a statement, Onyia refuted reports alleging that a Yoruba child was removed from the team and replaced with an Igbo child, insisting that the competition's selection process was conducted transparently and based solely on merit.
"There is a false tribal narrative being circulated claiming that we dropped a Yoruba child to replace him with an Igbo child for the International STEM Olympiad in Rome. That claim is completely false," he said.
According to Onyia, the winners emerged through the 2026 South East Maths Olympiad Grand Finale, which was streamed live to ensure transparency and public confidence in the process.
He explained that the organizers intentionally broadcast the competition live so parents, participants, and the general public could observe how winners were determined.
"Our selection process was conducted publicly because we believe transparency is the best way to protect integrity," he stated.
Onyia emphasized that the competition rewards students strictly on merit, without regard to ethnicity, religion, political connections, or other forms of influence.
"Our goal is simple: ensure that the right children win based on merit, not ethnicity, religion, connections or influence. We are building a generation that believes hard work is rewarded. Merit is not negotiable," he added.
He also urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives capable of undermining confidence in educational competitions, stressing that children should not become victims of ethnic or political disputes.
Concluding his statement, Onyia encouraged members of the public to watch the full live broadcast of the competition and assess the selection process themselves.
Watch the full Afia TV live broadcast of the 2026 South East Maths Olympiad Grand Finale
The allegation and Onyia's response have generated widespread discussion on social media, with many users calling for greater transparency in academic competitions while cautioning against the spread of unverified claims that could inflame ethnic tensions.
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