It was a happy and joyous tmosphere all the way at Southend Event Centre, Asaba, Delta State as winners of this year’s edition of Seplat PEARLs Quiz competition drawn from secondary schools in Edo and Delta state celebrated their prizes won with their intellect with fireworks and dances.
The joy of the youngsters in their overwhelming numbers knew no bounds as they made new friends and those who earlier participated in science and art exhibitions were handsomely rewarded.
Don Bosco Science Academy, Ukhun, a rural community in the university town of Ekpoma, Edo came first in the 12th edition of the quiz competition, smiling away with N10m in addition to N100,000 each for the participating students.
The second position went to Our Saviour College, Sapele, Delta, which got N5 million as participating students received N75,000 each.
Hollywood International Secondary School, Asaba defeated Divine Providence Education Centre, Benin to clinch third place. It received the sum of N3 million and N50,000 for each participating student.
Divine Providence Education Centre, however, got a consolation prize of N10,000 for each participating student.
This year’s edition of the competition took on a unique format, commencing with an online stage that saw 510 schools participating. As the competition progressed, only 139 schools managed to secure a coveted spot in the physical show.
The event attracted several personalities including Gov Shriff Oborevwori of Delta state who commended Seplat Energy for the initiative.
Represented by the secretary to the state government, Dr Kingsley Emu, the governor hoped other oil companies would borrow a leaf from the company.
According to him, the state government places high premium on education which culminated in having four ministries of education in the state, four state universities amongst others, assuring that more students from the site would feature in 2024 edition.
Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director of Seplat, West, Mr Ayodele Olatunde said the competition was more than just academic achievement.
“It’s about fostering values, principles, and a sense of purpose in our young talents. One of the values we aim to instill is the spirit of competition and teamwork
“Another value we seek to nurture is focus and resilience. To make it to the final stages of this competition, one must exhibit unwavering dedication and determination.
“To all the participants, We are immensely proud of you. Your hard work and dedication have brought you to this stage, and we celebrate your achievements.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Director of External Affairs and Sustainability at Seplat, Chioma Afe revealed that over the years, the program has provided scholarships to 99 students and implemented projects in 33 schools.
“We’ve given out four brand new 16-seater high school buses to the winning schools, 40 laptops, 952 Android tablets, and consolation prizes to 231 schools. This program offers far more than just winning; it helps students gain substantial experience, build confidence, and encourages them to adopt innovative techniques and develop their ideas and skills.
“Our aim, both as JV partners and ourselves, is to continue partnering with Edo and Delta State governments to provide this platform for our secondary school students to grow in confidence and excel in their examinations.
“This year, 510 schools took the online test, and 139 schools qualified for the knockout stages.
“In the last 11 years, this program has directly impacted 57,575 students in both states,” she explained.
Delta state commissioner for Basic and secondary education, Mrs Rose Ezewu commended Seplat Energy for its contribution in education sector.
” I would like to extend my gratitude to all responsible corporate citizens, philanthropists, and individuals who have contributed to this noble cause.
” I encourage all stakeholders, especially corporate entities, to continue partnering with the government in order to reap the dividends of your corporate responsibility initiatives.
“I must commend the finalists, officials, and indeed, all the schools that participated in the 2024 edition of the Seplat JV Quiz Competition. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed.”
This year’s Competition kicked off in Benin, Edo State October 10, 2024, while the finals where the winner, as well as the 1st and 2nd Runners-Up emerged held in Delta.
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