A second-year student of Medical Rehabilitation at the University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Mr. Isaac Fredrick Sunday, has emerged the winner of the third edition of the annual national oil and gas essay competition organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The essay submitted by the 21-year-old was adjudged the best amongst over 3000 entries and he was rewarded with a cash prize of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000), a new laptop and a plaque. He had emerged as one of the top 10 finalists in the 2018 edition of the competition.
The other top four finalists included Miss. Melex Tamaradoubra, a 200-level student of Medical Laboratory, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt; Mr. Nater Akpen, a 200-level Medical student of Benue State University, Makurdi; and Miss Zeenat Magaji, a 200-level student of Cyber Security Science, Federal University of Technology, Minna. They received varying cash prizes for their efforts.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, represented by the Manager, Corporate Communication, Barr. Naboth Onyesoh explained that the essay competition had become a signature event for the Board and serves to promote liberal arts education and development of vital soft skills required in the workplace and business in the emerging digital world economy.
According to him, “This program will continue to generate interest and awareness especially among undergraduates about the criticality of Nigerian Content philosophy and law in the oil and gas sector as a national economic agenda for job creation, poverty reduction, industrial development and economic growth.”
He commended the growth trajectory of the programme and the high ethical standards it had maintained over the years.
Mr. Onyesoh added that the programme is comparable with the Boards sponsored Science Quiz Competition for high school students, conceived to stimulate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. He encouraged the top 10 finalists to continually improve their writing competencies because it comes with numerous benefits.
Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Allen Agih, commended NCDMB for impacting positively on NDU and the society in general. He sought for more competitions to improve creativity and research, so as to enable students gain requisite practical experiences and become employable upon graduation.
The Project Consultant, Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi thanked the Board for its continued sponsorship of the essay competition. He said the project was conceived to encourage writing and the research ability of young Nigerian undergraduates in public and private owned tertiary institutions to enhance academic excellence.
