By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria has recorded a remarkable milestone in global science education as Daniel Adeluyi, a brilliant young student, has advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 Breakthrough Junior Challenge, one of the world’s most prestigious science competitions for teenagers. From thousands of entries submitted from across the globe, only 30 semi-finalists were selected, and Daniel has become the first Nigerian in the 11-year history of the competition to reach this stage.
Daniel’s submission is a visually engaging two-minute video that simplifies the complex concept of wormholes. His choice of topic, he explained, was inspired by a lifelong curiosity about space, physics, and the mysteries of the universe. “For me, wormholes represent a path to reaching the seemingly unreachable. I’ve always been a curious person and an avid reader and books about space, physics, and the mysteries of the universe fascinate me. I find it interesting that physics can turn ideas that seem impossible into things that could be real. I love adventure, and my passion for science and media intersected perfectly in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge,” he said.
The prizes at stake in the competition are substantial, including a $250,000 university scholarship for the winner, $50,000 for the teacher, and a state-of-the-art $100,000 science laboratory for the winner’s school. With Daniel now only one step away from the final round, he is on the verge of making history for Nigeria.
A multi-talented student, Daniel has consistently demonstrated excellence across academic, leadership, and creative pursuits. He previously served as the Assistant Head Boy at Brickhall School Abuja and was honoured with the Chairman’s Award for Academic Excellence at his graduation. Beyond the classroom, he captains his estate’s U18 football team, plays basketball, and taught himself to play the keyboard, composing several original pieces that reflect his curiosity and versatility.
Daniel is also the founder of BRAINS (Building Real-world Artificial Intelligence and Next-generation Skills), a youth-focused nonprofit organisation that equips young students with early exposure to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. His goal is to inspire children to build confidence and curiosity about the future of work.
He credits his strong communication and storytelling abilities to his steady consumption of high-quality educational content. He is an avid watcher of National Geographic and history documentaries and regularly reads scientific classics such as Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. These influences, he said, enhanced his capacity to connect complex scientific ideas and present them in a clear, intuitive, and engaging manner. Since 2021, Daniel has also been a volunteer in the media unit of The Capital Assembly, where he gained hands-on experience in content creation and storytelling, skills that directly contributed to the polished quality of his science video.
As the Breakthrough Junior Challenge enters its decisive stage, Daniel is calling for public support to secure a place in the finals. Advancement to the next round depends heavily on public engagement, with the video receiving the highest number of combined likes on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook page and YouTube channel earning an automatic spot.
“I would be very grateful if people would watch my video and like it on both platforms if they enjoy it,” he appealed.
Daniel’s voting links are available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/DysdmiVLAug?si=TuQJYGyN5xEvFdEM and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1MCbmBZscZ/.
With strong national support, Daniel hopes to bring home a historic win and inspire a new generation of Nigerian scientists and innovators.
