Don Bosco Science Academy, Ekpoma, Edo State, clinched the N7 million star prize in this year’s Seplat Petroleum Development Company plc’s Pearls Quiz Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
The final stage of the quiz competition, which took place at Imaguero College, Benin City, saw Don Bosco Science Academy defeating Peniel Academy, Agbor, to second place with 74 points against 58 points, while Deeper Life High School, Opete, Delta State, emerged third position with 68 points after defeating Brano High School, Benin City, which garnered 64 points.
Peniel Academy, Agbor, was rewarded with N3 million while Deeper Life High School, got N1 million.
Speaking at the event, Seplat’s CEO, says the programme is designed to rekindle the spirit of academic excellence and healthy competition among youths by motivating, encouraging and rewarding the scholarship spirit in them.
Austin Avuru, who was represented by Chima Njoku, general manager, Western Assets, Seplat, said the competition was also geared towards inculcating the principles of team work on the students.
He said the annual competition that started in 2012 was organised in partnership with its JV partner, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
In her remark, Chioma Nwachuku, general manager, external affairs/communications, noted, “SEPLAT PEARLs Quiz addresses Sustainability Development Goal 4 by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for both public and private schools in Edo and Delta States, thereby promoting lifelong learning opportunities for the teeming youth population.”
Nwachuku said the leading indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company had through the programme delivered several infrastructure and instructional projects to winning schools.
According to her, projects that have been delivered to schools through the initiative over the years include a language laboratory, three roofing projects, decked block-of-classrooms, interlocking stones for an entire school premises designed to stave off erosion, five computer laboratories in different schools and four brand new school buses.
“The PEARLs Quiz is a unique CSR initiative of SEPLAT aimed at promoting academic excellence, rewarding diligence and raising the quality of education in SEPLAT’s operational areas.
“Since 2012, over 608 schools have participated in the programme while winning students and schools have received cash prizes and projects.
“SEPLAT PEARLs Quiz challenge started in 2012 out of the determination of the company and its JV partner to inspire excellence in secondary school children in public and private schools in their host states.
“The company has through the PEARLs Quiz initiative provided scholarships to 63 students, implemented projects valued at over N30million in more than eight schools, given out four brand new 16-seater buses as well as consolation prizes to the last seven schools every year since inception,” she said.
In his remark, Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, commended the management and staff of Seplat for their consistency in instituting and sustaining the competition for an uninterrupted eight years.
Also, Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by Emmanuel Amgbaduba, commissioner for oil and gas, expressed gratitude to the firm for putting together an event that promotes the Sustainable Development Goals as well as healthy competition among students.
Eight schools from Delta State, which include Federal Government College Warri, Deeper Life High School Opete, Peniel Academy Agbor, Divine Academy High School Sapele, and Delta Steel Company Technical High Schools Aladja made it to the knockout stage of the 2019 edition.
While Don Bosco Science Academy Ekpoma, University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School Benin, Pioneer Education Centre Benin were among the nine Edo State-based schools that participated at the knockout stage.
