Love Afodus Standard School in Igbide, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has emerged the winner of the 6th Edition of Comrade Sheriff Mulade inter-LGA Quiz & Essay competition organized for secondary schools in the state.
The competition which was organised by the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, in collaboration with Chief Sheriff Mulade Foundation and other partners had 14 schools participating at the Federal Government College Warri, with dignitaries from the Delta State government, CIEs, NUTs, CSOs and LGA chairmen.
The occasion was chaired by the Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Dr Michael Tidi, who was represented by Hon. Ighomrore Hope while the special guest of honour, Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu, was represented by the Chief Inspector of Education for Warri South, Prince Theophilus Alekwe.
The National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Mulade Sheriff, in his speech, said the annual Inter-LGAs competition is aimed at bridging the gap between riverine areas, rural schools and their urban counterpart so that the coastal schools can have a full taste of what they have been denied in terms of academic competition and exposure.
Mulade, who is a peace Ambassador while speaking on peaceful coexistence in Delta state said the competition is an opportunity to promote and sustain the existing peace among the ethnic nationalities in the Communities within the selected region by promoting the love that exists particularly Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo and Isoko ethnic groups”.
He also appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Governors in the South-South Region and Nigerians, in general, to pay more attention to the improvement of the Education sector by promoting Rural and Riverine Education to achieve SDG 4, Quality Education.
The quiz competition which was for Junior Secondary (JSS) classes 1 to 3, had Love Afodu Standard School, Isoko South LGA emerged as the winners, while Gbesa Grammar School, Ojobo, Burutu LGA, and Iwere College, Koko, Warri North LGA, both emerged as 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Other schools that participated in the quiz competition were; Government Model Secondary School, Patani; Erejuwa II Grammar School, Warri South; Evans International School, Isoko North; Ogbe-Ijoh Grammar School, Warri South-West.
Meanwhile, Akugbene Grammar School, Burutu, billed for the competition, was absent.
In the essay competition for Senior Secondary (SS) classes 1 to 3, Rudolph Abraham from Kpakiama Secondary School, Bomadi, scored 36 points to clinch the 1st prize, while Jolomi Stephani from Beach Secondary School, Warri North, and Odaderia Oloroghene from Oproza Grammar School, Patani, both scored 20 and 19 points to clinch the 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively.
Other participants in the essay competition were Eyimsan Isaye from Atuwatse II College, Warri South; Etareri Precious from Kokodiagbene Model Secondary School, Warri South-West; and George Precious from Burutu Grammar School, Burutu.
Young Efiri Trustgod of Gbesa grammar School Ojobo, Burutu Local Government Area was also offered a scholarship for his exceptional performers during the quiz competition.
Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner, Mrs Rose Ezewu commended Mulade and members of CEPEJ who were the organizers of the quiz and essay competition.
According to her, “The competition has helped to foster unity, peaceful coexistence and demonstrated that even if you have little you can contribute to education, students should use this opportunity to study hard”.
CIE Warri South-West, Mrs Omagbemi Mercy, commended and encouraged Chief Comrade Sheriff Mulade to carry on with the wonderful education project which focuses on rural and riverine schools.
She also noted that what Chief Mulade is doing shows that education is a reality, not a scam, adding that when the programme started years ago, it was within LGAs around coastal communities, now it has extended to the entire Delta State which is a welcome development.
While congratulating the winners and Chief Mulade who is the Ibe Sorimowei of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, she appealed to stakeholders across government, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and others in the private sector “to pay more attention to the improvement of the education sector and to promote rural and riverine education” so that Nigeria can “meet up with the pace of global advancement in technology, as seen in civilized countries”.
Highlights of the programme include the presentation of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes to winners of the quiz and essay competitions, the sharing of school bags, notebooks, and mathematical sets to students in attendance, and a group photograph session.
