It was victory songs for St Michael College, Benin City, Edo State on Thursday,as the school went home with a cash price of #7,000,000.00 (Seven Million Naira)first price for the Seplat 2020 Senior Secondary School Quiz competition.
St Micheal College, Benin scored a total of 55 points to beat MC Nell Academy, Sapele, Delta State with 35 points to win the coveted trophy
While MC Nell Academy Sapele went home with #3,000.000.00( Three Million Naira) the third place position went to Glory Land Secondary School,Igara,who beat St John Academy, Delta State by 65 to 55 points winning a cash price of #1,000.000.00( One Million Naira)
Participating students from St Micheal College got #100,000 each,a laptop bag and educational materials;MC Nell Academy students got #75,000 each, a laptop bag and educational materials; while Glory Land Secondary School students got #50.000 each,a laptop bag and educational materials.
St John Academy students got #10,000, a laptop bag and educational materials
Speaking at the event,the General Manager, External Affairs and Communication,Dr Chioma Nwachuku, who represented the Chief Executive Officer,Mr Roger Brown said Seplat started the programme in 2012 to improve on the education standard of the host states (Delta and Edo States),and that about 574 schools in Delta and Edo states entered into this year competition because of the peculiar situation of COVID-19 pandemic,as against more than a thousand schools that should have participated.
She said,a total of 45140 students had benefited from the scheme, while over 30 of them are in the university, 2 are enjoying scholarship from Seplat.
According to her, ” This programme started since 2012, and it is targeted to improve on the education standard of the host states,it gladdens our hearts that the states are responding.If you go by the sustainable development goal of the United Nation, you will find out that education is very important,and we as acompany, have values for education.
“Six months ago, about 576 schools entered into the competition, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we used computer for the first stage, before we got to the stage, where we began to have physical contact.
“Over 45140 students has benefitted from the scheme since 2012, About 35 of them are now in the university, while 2 are enjoying full scholarship,As a company, we recognized the importance of education,we may not be planning to employ them at the end of the day,but we prepare them to be able to face the future.”
In his speech,the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly,Rt Hon Marcus Onobun said Seplat is a good example that other organizations should emulate in the discharge of their social responsibilities. According to him,the youths is said to be the leaders of tomorrow,but by the attitude of our youths as shown by the EndSARS protest leaves more to be desired.He admonished that the biblical counsel that says “train a child the way it should go,if he grows he will not depart from it”,is key,as Seplat is doing.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Edo State, Mrs Stella Maris Imasuen in her address stated that what Seplat is doing is a way of promoting the educational sector.”I want to appreciate Seplat for their efforts to improve on the educational system of their host communities. Education cannot be wholly funded by the government.The Edo State Government is bent on improving on the educational system of the state and that is the reason for EdoBest. EdoBest is a system of education were teachers are trained to teach with modern technology.”She concluded
On ground to entertain the guests were different dancing groups.
