Three public schools, Ijaw National Academy, Community Secondary School, Akenfa and Kaiama Grammar School swept the stakes at the 4th edition of science quiz competition for secondary schools in Bayelsa State sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The annual contest is themed “Grab a Star: Reach for the sky” and is organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Yenagoa. The prize giving day for the winning schools was held on Wednesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Delivering the welcome address, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, represented by Supervisor, Media and Publicity, Mr Obinna Ezeobi explained that the Board sponsored the quiz competition with the goal of improving the quality of teaching and learning of science education in state.
According to him, sponsoring the competition was in line with the Board’s mandate of building local capacities in the oil and gas industry. “The competition offers a wonderful opportunity to start early to develop the capabilities of Nigerians who would work in the oil and gas industry in the years to come.”
He highlighted some other support rendered by the Board to the education sector in state to include the donation of two Information Communication Technology centres and presentation of 32 desktop computers, 752 computer textbooks and 752 computer workbooks to the Bayelsa State Post-Primary Schools Board (PPSB).
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State, Hon Jonathan Obuebite hailed the Board for its contributions to the development of education in the state and continuous sponsorship of the quiz competition. He attributed the success of the public schools in the science quiz competition to the state government’s effort at improving the sector. In his words, “the government has invested massively in infrastructural and facility upgrade of schools and that had ensured that Bayelsa State students are excelling in competitions and examinations which was not the case few years ago.”
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Manpower Development, Chief Blessing Izagara advised that the competition should focus on the application of science and technology to the improvement of the society rather than asking students to recall scientific facts and dates. Such shift in emphasis he said, would propel the students to develop the zeal and mind-set to innovate things that would improve their generation.
The General Manger, NTA Yenagoa, Barr. Emeka Okpala thanked the Board for its continued sponsorship of the quiz competition and pledged the station’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the Board and publicise all its activities.
