Love Afodus Standard School in Igbide, Isoko South Local government Area of Delta State emerged winner of the 6th Edition of Comrade Sheriff Mulade inter-LGA Quiz & Essay competition organized for secondary schools in Delta State.
The competition which was organized by Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ in collaboration with Chief Sheriff Mulade Foundation sponsored by other partners had 14 Schools in participation at the Federal Government College Warri, with dignitaries from the Delta State government, CIEs, NUTs, CSOs and LGA chairmen.
The chairman of the occasion was Hon. Michael Tidi, Executive Chairman, Warri South LGA, represented by Hon. Ighomrore Hope, special guest of honour was, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prince Alekwe, the Chief Inspector of Education, CIE, Warri South.
The National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, Chief Comr. Mulade Sheriff, in his speech said, the annual Inter-LGA, 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.
Comrade, Sheriff Mulade, who is a peace Amb. 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 exist particularly Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo and Isoko ethnic groups”. He also appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Governor’s 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.
Scholarship was also offered to Young Efiri Trustgod of Gbesa grammar School Ojobo, Burutu Local Government Area for his exceptional performers during the quiz competition.
In commendation to the organizers of the programme Chief Mulade, the Delta State Commissioner for the Ministry of basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu who was represented by Prince Alekwe Theophilus, the CIE of Warri South LGA, commended Mulade and members of CEPEJ who were the organizers of the quiz and essay competition. He stated that; “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”
Mrs. Omagbemi, Mercy, CIE, Warri South-West, commended and encouraged Chief Comrade Sheriff Mulade to carry on with this wonderful education project which focuses on rural and riverine schools. She also said what Chief Mulade is doing shows that education is a reality, not a scam, stating 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, Chief Mulade who is the Ibe Sorimowei of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State 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.”
Speaking at the programme, the sponsor and National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Mulade said that “the annual competition is aimed at bridging the gap between the riverine rural schools and their urban counterparts so that the coastal schools can have a full taste of what they have been denied over time in terms of academic competitions and exposures” and to “promote and sustain the existing peace among the ethnic nationalities in the communities particularly the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko and Urhobo ethnic groups.”
Among those in attendance are Prince Alekwe, Chief Inspector of Education, CIE, Warri South (who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Secondary Education Mrs. Rose Ezewu); Comrade Jonathan Adiri, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Delta State; Mrs. Omagbemi Mercy, CIE, Warri South-West; Dr Christiana Okerie. CIE Ethiope East, Hon Ighomrore Hope (who represented the Executive Chairman of Warri South Council, Dr Tidi Michael); Godwin Agbiloko, Head, IPCR; Mr. Eze Ariwojo, Deputy Director, Ministry of Education, Asaba, staffs of CEPEJ, teachers of the participating schools, media teams, amongst other guests.
Also in attendance were three beneficiaries of the Chief Comrade Sheriff Mulade Quiz and Essay competition: Miss Soyinka Funmi from Erejuwa II College (2021), Warri South, Miss Dariji Success from Tsekelewu Secondary School, Egbema (2019) Warri North and Miss Amos Christabell from Ukpiovwin Secondary School, Udu (2021), all gave testimonies of the positive impacts that the programme has had on them.
Those in attendance for CEPEJ incudes’, the Head of Administration, Mrs Agidi Tina, Senior programmes Manager, Mr. Ideh Sammuel, program manager, environment/communication Mr. Dan Tonfawei, Logistic manager, Mr. Dimeji and ICT manager Mr. Ola.
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 group photograph session.