The Federal Capital Territory representing the North Central Zone has won the 2015 NNPC Annual National Quiz Competition.
The competition was won by three students from different secondary schools in the FCT and they will enjoy university scholarships to be sponsored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in any Nigerian Ivory Tower.
Speaking during the grand finale of the event at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Joseph T. Dawha felicitated with the winners and assured of the readiness of the NNPC to sustain the programme in order to mentor the leaders of tomorrow to succeed in their academic pursuits.
Dr. Dawha said the competition which is the 14thedition has lived up to the objectives for which it was instituted, adding that most of the winners of the competition in the past have graduated with flying colours from various universities across the country.
According to him, since the National Quiz Competition had its debut 14 years ago, it has helped in developing the interest of young Nigerians in studying science and technology courses in tertiary institutions across the country and beyond.
He said the scholarship scheme has not only helped the development of science and technology in the country but has also gone a long way in assisting the nation’s future leaders to prepare towards contributing their quota to national development.
He assured that NNPC would not relent in supporting this National Quiz Competition and other community-based efforts aimed at building national human capacities and capabilities stressing that the NNPC would continue to execute many more strategic community development projects, particularly those that would rapidly improve the lives of Nigerians.
Dr. Dawha announced the increase of the bursary from N100, 000 to N250, 000 annually for all NNPC scholars throughout their first degree programmes.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Taiye Hassan Haruna represented by the Director Reform and Coordination Mrs. Edna Eneh commended the NNPC for giving the young ones the opportunity to compete at the national stage stressing that hard work is the only way out of hard life.
Delivering a key note address, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala represented by Mrs. Justina Ibe, Director Support Services in the Ministry applauded the NNPC for encouraging science based education saying it would go a long way to sustain the development strides of the Federal Government.
Presenting a goodwill message, a pioneer winner of the NNPC quiz competition Modungwo Andrew Nwabu expressed gratitude to the NNPC for the award of scholarship that saw him through his University education and called on the winners to do the Corporation proud.
In his remarks, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, OHI ALEGBE, said the NNPC as a responsible and responsive corporate citizen, would continue to contribute its quota to adding value to the educational sector through its annual quiz competition.
The list of finalists for the 2015 NNPC Annual National Quiz Competition were made up of the champions of the six geo-political zones as follows: Akwa Ibom for the South- South, Anambra for the South-East, FCT for the North-Central, Lagos for South West, Katsina for North-West and Gombe for North-East, and they competed in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and General Knowledge.
