Don Bosco Academy Wins 2019 Seplat Pearls Quiz
… Programme Aimed At Rekindling Academic Excellence, Health Competition – Seplat
Joseph Kanjo
Don Bosco Science Academy, Ekpoma, Edo State, Weekend, in Benin City, emerged winner of the 8th edition of the 2019 NPDC/Seplat Pearls Quiz with a prize of seven million naira (N7 million).
Students from Don Bosco Science Academy defeated other seven schools at the final stage to win scholarship grant of a hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each for the three participating students alongside other fringes such as laptops.
Peniel Academy, Agbor, Delta State, clinched themselves three million naira (N3 million) and scholarship grant of seventy-five thousand naira (N75,000) each for the participating students after emerging 2nd runner-up, while Deeper Life High School, Warri, Delta State, emerged 3rd runner-up with a prize of one million for the school and scholarship of fifty thousand naira (50,000) each for the participating students alongside other fringes.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Seplat Petroleum Development Company PLC, said the programme was aimed at rekindling the spirit of academic Excellennce, healthy competition amongst youths, adding that the programme will go a long way in motivating, encouraging and rewarding scholarship spirit and inculcate the benefits of team work in them.
The CEO, who was represented by Mr. Chima Njoku, General Manager, Western Assets, Seplat, disclosed that Seplat Pearls Quiz also aimed at addressing Sustainability Development Goal for quality education by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
“SEPLAT Pearls Quiz addresses Sustainability Development Goal for quality education by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for both Delta and Edo states, thus helping to promoting lifelong learning opportunities for the teaming youth population.”
“Using the project-based cash prizes, the programme has assisted the winning secondary schools to: build a language laboratory, embacked on construction in 3 schools in areas of roofing a building, decking a block for new classrooms and flooring entire school premises with interlocking stave off erosion. Upgrade computer laboratories in 5 different schools and provide new buses to 4 schools”, he said.
Speaking on students that are on Seplat scholarship grant, the CEO said the company is monitoring over twenty of them in various universities across the country, noting that two have benefited from the company’s undergraduate scholarship scheme while one has undergone industrial training with the company.
Avuru disclosed that, since the scheme inception in 2012, over N30 millions has been disbursed in cash as scholarship grant to 63 students, adding that four air-conditioned school buses have been procured for various schools.
In his speech, Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, appreciated Seplat for organising the competition, ensuring that the government will fully cooperate and collobarate with the company in promoting science and technology education in secondary schools.
“As a government, we are willing to collaborate with professionals, NGOs, research institutions, inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs to improve the life chances of our children through application of science, technology and innovation”, he added.
Obaseki encouraged winners of various prizes to work harder, stressing that this will make them to occupy prestigious social role in the society.
Also speaking, Delta State governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, thanked organisers of the Quiz, Seplat, for deligently carrying out social responsibility.
Okowa, who was represented by the state commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba, encouraged the students to do more, promising that better days are ahead of them.
