Bingham University and Neuroscience Society of Nigeria Host 2026 North Central Brain Bee Competition

The Neuroscience Society of Nigeria (NSN), in partnership with Bingham University, Karu hosted the 2026 Annual Nigerian Brain Bee Competition for secondary schools in the North Central Zone, bringing together young science talents for an academic contest designed to strengthen neuroscience education and stimulate interest in brain science among students.

Participating schools included ECWA High School, Keffi; The Lord’s College, Tudunwada; Triton International School, Kuchikau; Faith Academy, Goshen; Divine Love College, Kuchikau; Char-Rah Prime Academy, Kuchikau and Fadasa Divine Model International Academy, Kuchikau. The overall winner will advance to the national stage, where winners from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones will compete for the top prize.

Welcoming participants, the National President of the Neuroscience Society of Nigeria, Prof. Angela Danborno, commended the presence of the schools and expressed appreciation to Bingham University for partnering with the Society to host the annual competition.

Prof. Danborno described the Brain Bee as a key initiative aimed at grooming the next generation of scientists and health professionals, noting that the programme provides a platform for secondary school students to engage early with the fundamentals of neuroscience while preparing the zonal winner for national representation.

Anchoring the event, the National Coordinator of Neuroscience Society of Nigeria, Dr. Moses Ibrahim Auza of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, assured participants of fairness and transparency throughout the exercise. He stressed that the competition would be conducted without bias and urged the students to put in their best efforts.

In his remarks, the North Central Coordinator of the Neuroscience Society of Nigeria, Dr. Oguche Emmanuel E. of Bingham University, explained that the Brain Bee is strictly an individual contest rather than a school-based competition. He stated that the winner would emerge purely on merit, irrespective of institutional affiliation.

Dr. Oguche further explained that beyond the preparation done by each participating school, the organisers included lecture sessions to refresh the students and align them with the standard structure of the Brain Bee examination. According to him, the assessment included multiple-choice questions and a steeplechase segment, reflecting the national competition format to adequately prepare the zonal winner for the national level.

The lecture series commenced with a presentation on the Spinal Cord delivered by Ms. Sarah Ifudiya David, of the Department of Human Anatomy, Bingham University. The second lecture was delivered by Kayode Williams Iyomo of the Department of Human Physiology, Bingham University, who spoke on the Autonomic Nervous System. Dr. Ogbe Susan of the Department of Physiology, Federal University, Wukari, delivered a lesson on introduction to the nervous system, with emphasis on the brain. 

Dr. Oguche Emmanuel also delivered a lesson on the Somatic Nervous System, explaining its role in voluntary movement and sensory processing. 

At the end of the lecture sessions, the students proceeded to the examination stage where they were allotted 45 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions, followed by a steeplechase segment which tested speed and accuracy as questions disappeared within timed intervals.

Jelison Jeffrey Jiniyi of Faith Academy, Goshen, emerged overall winner with a score of 94.2%. Ayoola Iyanuoluwa, also of Faith Academy, Goshen, came second with 85.0%, while Chukwuka Chimbusomma of Faith Academy, Goshen and Thankgod Stephen of Fadasa Divine Model International Academy tied for third place with 84.2% scores each.

With the outcome, Jelison Jeffrey Jiniyi will represent the North Central Zone at the National Brain Bee competition, where he will compete against winners from other geopolitical zones.

The event was concluded with the award of cash prizes to the top four winners.