By Stephen Adeleye.
Lokoja, Oct. 18, 2024
The Holy Ghost College Okura, Sawmill in Dekina Local Government Area, has emerged winner of the 9th Edition of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) Quiz Competition on Legislative and Democracy.
The competition which was held on Thursday 17th of October, 2024, at the GYB Model Science Secondary School (GYBMSS) Adankolo, Lokoja saw the Holy Ghost College, Okura, Sawmill emerged winners with 50 marks.
The first runner up was Bishop Delisle College, Lokoja, with 45 marks, while Government Girls Unity Secondary School, Oboroke, Okehi Local Government, came third.
Six Schools were drawn from the three Senatorial districts of the state to participate in competition, with two from each senatorial district.
The Schools are; Government Girls Unity Secondary School Oboroke, Okehi; Bishop Delisle College, Lokoja; Saint Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Lokoja; Solardad College, GRA Okene; Holy ghost, College Okura, Sawmill, Dekina; and Holy Rosary, Idah.
Declaring the competition open, the Kogi Commissioner for Education Hon. Wemi Jones, urged students to shun all forms of social vices and focused on their studies.
Jones, who was represented by the Director Administration Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolayo Barikisu, assured that the state government would continue to provide an environment favorable for their academy pursuit.
The commissioner expressed the commitment of the Government of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to the restoration of the glory of education in the state.
He noted that the state government has invested much in Education, noting that the allocation of 30 per cent of the state’s Annual Budget to Education, had transformed the educational sector.
The commissioner stressed that funds were being made available for the implementation of all government policies and programmes in education.
According to him, the establishment of two State Universities within the spate of two years, the State Free Education Law and the implementation of other policies have re-formed the Kogi Education sector.
Jones commended the NILDS for initiating for program that would broaden the understanding of the history, procedure and practice of Legislature amongst students in Nigeria.
He added that the competition would also encouraged continued participation in the study of Legislative matters.
Earlier, the Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, said the competition which is an annual event, has been extended to all the States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Suleiman, who represented by the Kogi State Coordinator of the competition, Hajia Salamatu Yakubu, said the competition is to provide continue education on the Legislature and broaden the knowledge of students and youth on the history.
He added that it would educate the students on procedures and practices of the Legislature and also to encouraged deeper understanding of Civic and Democratic Governance.
The DG urged participants and their teachers to abide by the rules of the game with the spirit of sportsmanship and avoid interference in order to achieve the objectives of the Quiz Competition.
End