Nigerian student breaks ground in global $400,000 science contes

A Nigerian student, Daniel Adeluyi, has made history by becoming the first-ever Nigerian to reach the semi-finals of the 2025 Breakthrough Junior Challenge, one of the world’s most competitive science competitions for teenagers.

Selected from thousands of entries across the globe, Daniel is now among just 30 semi-finalists, marking a major milestone in the competition’s 11-year history.

Daniel’s two-minute video, which explains the science of wormholes, impressed judges with its clarity, creativity, and engaging visual storytelling.

“Wormholes represent a path to reaching the seemingly unreachable,” Daniel said, reflecting both his passion for physics and his talent for science communication.

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge offers life-changing rewards, including a $250,000 university scholarship for the winner, a $50,000 award for the winning teacher, and a $100,000 state-of-the-art science laboratory for the winner’s school—an achievement that could benefit Daniel, his mentors, and his community.

Beyond his scientific pursuits, Daniel is an academic standout and community leader.

A former Assistant Head Boy at Brickhall School Abuja, he earned the Chairman’s Award for Academic Excellence upon graduation.

He also captains his estate’s U18 football team, plays basketball, and is a self-taught keyboardist and composer.

Daniel is the founder of BRAINS (Building Real-world Artificial Intelligence and Next-generation Skills), a nonprofit organization that introduces children to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, inspiring younger students to embrace curiosity and confidence in future-focused careers.

His communication skills were honed through years of consuming educational content—from National Geographic documentaries to Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time—and volunteering in the media unit of his church, The Capital Assembly, since 2021, giving him hands-on experience that shaped his award-winning video.

As Daniel advances toward the finals, public support will be crucial.

“Finalists are partly determined by online engagement, with the video receiving the most combined likes on Facebook and YouTube automatically securing a spot.

Daniel is urging Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to support him.

“I would be very grateful if people would watch my video and like it on both platforms if they enjoy it,” he said.