NIGERIA-ESSAY COMPETITION

04/EEN/012
15 year-old Okoli, Fego, Cliff win Bishop Okonkwo national essay competition .



OUT of the 516 entries received from secondary school students nationwide for this year’s edition of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, Oyinye Okoli, a 15-year old student of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos, has emerged the overall winner.

Okoli emerged with a total score of 78 per cent, defeating Ahia Fego of Brilliant Child College, Bariga, Lagos, who came second with a total score of 65 per cent and Ann Iyabode Cliff of Vetland Senior Grammar School, Lagos who scored 62 per cent and came third.

For her feat, Okoli received the star prize of a laptop and N100,000 cash for herself and three sets of Internet ready desktop computers with a printer for her school. The second best winner went home with a cash price of N75,000 for himself and two Internet ready desktop computers with printer for his school. The third best student received N50,000 for herself and a set of computer for her school. Consolation prices of N20,000 each were also given to the remaining seven finalists.

Okonkwo, whose passion in life is to leave a lasting legacy where people’s lives would be touched, also used the occasion to offer scholarships to 30 students from secondary to university level. He stated: “The essay competition has helped some students that participated to develop more interest in research work, reading extensively and writing constructively. The educational competition was introduced as a response to the pervading poor reading and writing culture among secondary school students.”

Okoli, in her winning essay, had affirmed that Nigeria’s future remained bright, regardless of being faced with a shrinking economy and a host of other problems. “How can we be so blessed and not come to a beautiful end? She queried. And as if to answer her own question, she declared: “Every developed country passed through this stage and we are on our way to progress. To boost economic growth, the economy has to be diversified. Our land is so fertile; we need to resurrect agriculture as well as our tourism potentials. There is so much human potential in this country that we can use to further development.”

She commended the organisers of the competition for giving students a voice to contribute their quota to nation building. She however challenged young Nigerians to take education seriously, adding that it was now left for the youths to make Nigeria great.

Presenting the examiner’s reports at a colourful ceremony held in Lagos to celebrate the 65th birthday of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission’s (TREM) leader, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Akachi Ezigbo, a Professor of English from the University of Lagos, said the competition has been able to generate debates on national issues among students.

Commending the Mike Okonkwo Educational and Youth Initiative (MOEYI) for taking up the challenge to empower youths in Nigeria, she further implored parents to always instill moral values in children, to help them succeed in life.

The competition, which was introduced as part of the activities to mark Okonkwo’s birthday and to improve the standard of education in the country, also featured a lecture tagged “Nigeria at 50, Leadership, Followership, Development and the Future,” and was delivered by Major General Ishola Williams (Rtd).

Okonkwo said, “I still believe there is hope for the nation, despite all the challenges. It is a fact that a lot of people desire change in the country. Every individual should cover his or her own corner. They should be positive and play their part in fostering positive change.”

On the issue of rebranding, he said, “ rebranding should start from the foundation. There should be a fresh orientation, starting from the nursery school, so that by the time children get older, their attitude will be shaped. What we have now are young people who just want to get their own share of the national cake. But I still believe that God’s divine plan for Nigeria will be accomplished.”

A 2005 winner of the essay competition, Mathew Adeiza, who was also offered scholarship as a birthday gift by the Bishop, said the competition gave him the confidence and courage to face any situation in life. He said: “This competition gave me the courage to believe that if I can make it at this level, I can make it anywhere. I am graduating as one of the best in my department because of the opportunity the platform has offered me. Instead of just complaining, the essay competition provides a platform for us to express our views about national issues. The award of scholarship by the Bishop has shown me that a good vision extends beyond race, religion, ethnic group or even church.”