By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe
Concorde Model Secondary School, Owerri, has emerged the overall best in the finals of the 2024 Pearls Quiz Competition in Imo State sponsored by Seplat Energy Plc in partnership with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) for secondary schools in the state. The event which held on Friday, November 14, witnessed the school coming first among the finalists.
On their objectives through the competition, the Seplat Energy management, highlighted the company’s resolve to use the event to advance academic excellence as well as to promote healthy competition among students in the state. This they said would provide avenue for the company to reward hard work, assuring of collaboration with the state government towards improving educational standards in the state.
Meanwhile, the the winning team representing Concorde Model Secondary School at the event, included: Ifeonu Adaugo, Amazing Osuji and Ignatius Prudence. This was as the school smiled home with 5 million naira star prize for the winner, while their three students were given N100,000 each for their brilliant performances.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the sidelines, the Principal of Concorde Model Secondary School, Prince Harrison Egeneokwu, expressed excitement over their victory, describing it as deserving given the hard work put in place by the school in preparing for the competition. He said: “I feel so happy and so elated. This victory is a product of hard work. Actually, we have put a lot of things in place. So, the victory is deserving.”
Prince Egeneokwu, used the opportunity to thank the organizers of the quiz competition for their good initiative. “Sincerely, I must commend Seplat Energy Plc for doing a good job. It’s a thing of joy having participated in this competition. I think that it’s an eye opener and the students are motivated. The company should be commended for this and supported to continue with it,” he noted.
He also reminded the participating students that hard work pays, urging them to study harder and to put in their best always. The principal emphasized that the hope of a future society is dependent on the young ones, stressing the need to impact them with the best of academics and character to live up to expectations. He equally challenged teachers, especially school heads to work assiduously towards bringing back standards in the educational sector that is presently declining.
He assured that Concorde Model Secondary School, Owerri, would continue to make exploits in the field of learning, noting that with the outcome of the competition, the school has demonstrated clear leadership as the best in the state.
The grand finale had in attendance government officials, traditional rulers and various stakeholders. They included: the Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum, Hon. Emeka Ngbudem and that of the Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Henry Okafor and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Chinyere Ibeh, representing the Commissioner, Prof. Johncliff Nwadike. Others are Eze Dr. A.O. Ozuruoha and Eze Dr. Uzoma Akopunwanne among others.
