2 months ago
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Worried by the deteriorating standard of education in Rivers State in particular and the country in general, and the poor performance of students in examinations, a group, ‘August Meeting,’ said it has begun a series of activities aimed at improving the reading culture among the younger generation.
Noting that it is passionate about the state of education in Rivers State and in its bid to ensure that education takes its pride of place in the state and country in general, it began what it called ‘Education Champions League Quiz Competition,’ which semi-final stage comes up this Saturday, for secondary schools in the state, which it fully sponsored and comes with rewards.
One of the driving forces behind the group and an educationist, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, told South-South PUNCH that the quiz competition becomes necessary because “in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, both our males and females share the same spirit.”
Wall, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress said popular names in the city like Alison Allanso, Ifeoma Ifejika, Ivy Davies, and their peers have long embraced their identity as Port Harcourt boys regardless of gender.
He stated, “Our free spirit is embedded in our DNA, and we seize every opportunity to showcase who we are. The City of Port Harcourt has demonstrated this spirit in many ways, particularly through the overwhelming support given to our twin projects: the August Meeting (a book review program) and the Education Champions League quiz competition for secondary schools in Rivers state.”
Wali said the turnout at the August Meeting events has been both revolutionary and inspiring, and the 100 per cent sponsorship of the ECL Quiz Competition by the people of Port Harcourt has been humbling.
He added, “On behalf of the AM/ECL ecosystem, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, High Chief Uzoma Ekpecham, Prof. Eme Ekekwe, Datom Kio-Lawson, Mrs. Ikem Asoka, Mrs. Nkem Asoka, Pastor Segun Owolabi, Ms. Anni Abdulsalaam, and many others whose support is too numerous to list.
“The ECL Quiz Competition offers cash prizes: N10 million for first place, N5 million for second place and N2.5 million for third place. I am pleased to announce that the sponsorship package is fully secured and ready to go.”
Wali said the semi-finals of the event will hold on Saturday, September 28th, with about eight schools, including ‘Federal Government Girls College, Enitonna High School, Goldsprings Secondary School, Government Girls Secondary School, Oromineke, Seacrest Preparatory School, Aladumo International School, Government Comprehensive Secondary School and Charles Dale Memorial International School’ to be held at the Aladumo International School and Seacrest Preparatory School respectively.
The four best-performing schools will advance to the finals, which will be held at the Alliance Francaise Hall in GRA, Port Harcourt on October 26th, 2024.
The educationist said the event is an avenue to support our children and showcase what the Port Harcourt spirit truly means, saying the presence of “parents, uncles, aunties, and neighbours” will add value to this festival of education, while emphasizing that “education is a celebration of knowledge, not a scam.”
