Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Government Secondary School, Oyigbo in Rivers State, has emerged as the Winner of the 2024 Science Quiz Competition sponsored by the Nigeria LNG Limited.
Two students from the GSS Oyigbo, Nnanna Peace and Raphael Ataisi, beat six other secondary schools with 63,858 points, including Bonny National Grammar School and Niger Delta Science School, who came second and third in the grand finale of the competition, to clinch the first prize.
Similarly, Nigerian Navy Secondary came first in the innovation category with e-voting innovation, Government Secondary School Orominike emerged second with waste disposal innovation and Government Secondary School Elekahia came third with drainage filter innovation.
Other competing schools in the grand finale of 2024 NLNG Science Quiz include Enitonna High School Borokiri, Community Secondary School Okrika, Birabi Memorial Grammar School Borokiri, and Community Secondary School Orowurokwu.
Speaking, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, Mr Andy Odeh, said the competition themed “Artificial Intelligence: Innovating the Future,” aims to promote scientific and technological literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among secondary school students.
Odeh said NLNG believes that preparing for the future requires understanding and harnessing the power of technology, particularly AI, adding that the competition was designed to test students’ knowledge, ignite creativity, and hone problem-solving skills essential for innovation.
According to him, NLNG’s commitment to science education extends beyond the competition, with initiatives like the NLNG University Support Programme, scholarship programs, and infrastructure development in host communities.
He said, “At NLNG, we firmly believe that now is the time to prepare for the future. As we look around, it is clear that the future is being shaped by scientific and technological advancements. Among these, Artificial Intelligence stands out as a transformative force. AI is reshaping our world, and we are challenged to understand it, embrace it, and seamlessly integrate it into our daily lives. We must demystify AI, making it as accessible and straightforward as ABC.
“There is no better time to expose our children and youths to these advancements than now. AI has become so integral to our lives that everyone, in some way, relies on it. From healthcare professionals using AI for precise diagnoses and treatments to students utilizing AI-powered tools for their studies, technology is enhancing our lives in countless ways. The train of progress has left the station, and we must catch up quickly if we want to be significant players in the future.
“This year’s theme, “Artificial Intelligence: Innovating the Future,” reflects our focus. This science quiz competition is an opportunity to test our children’s knowledge, ignite their creativity, and hone their problem-solving skills—essential ingredients for innovation. Through this competition, we aim to promote scientific and technological literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, encouraging young people to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology.
“We are deeply committed to science education because we believe it is the cornerstone of development. Remember, the future of our society depends on our actions today. Together, let us create a world that is innovative, equitable, and prosperous for all through AI and technology.”
Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Ovy Chinedum Chukuma represented by the Permanent Secretary, Minister of Education, Mrs Ebere Emenike, appealed to other corporate bodies to emulate NLNG in impacting positively on Rivers youths.
“Rivers State is very happy with what NLNG is doing by exposing our kids to these kinds of competitions and we urged other corporate bodies to emulate NLNG.
“These kinds of competitions expose our kids to critical thinking and instill a passion for innovation, which is the hallmark of STEM education.”
Meanwhile, the 2024 winners of the NLNG 2024 Science Quiz Competition, Miss Raphael Ataisi, and Nnanna Peace, told newsmen that their school, Government Secondary School Oyigbo, lacks any form of equipment for science practicals.
“We are so happy to be the champion of NLNG 2024 Science Quiz Competition. We want to thank NLNG for providing this opportunity for public schools to compete among themselves.
“Personally, I wasn’t even expecting the fourth position, but to the glory of God, we came first. In our GSS Oyigbo, we lack computer and science laboratories; we learn without experiment, we learn only theory.”
