Children’s Day in Bayelsa: Ijaw National Academy Wins Prizes In Essay Writing

By Pat PA Okon

The Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama has emerged the overall best by winning the first, second and third prizes in the just-concluded Essay Writing Competition organised by the state Ministry of Education.

Master Africanus Noel won the first prize of N100,000 while his colleagues Miss Victoria Yoku Tarimoboere and Godswill Ifiemi Odiowei clinched the second and third positions smiling home with N70,000 and 50,000 naira respectively.

Master David Anthony representing Government Model Secondary School, Ekeremor came fourth while Okoko Ayibaemi of Southern Ijaw Model Secondary School got the fifth position with consolation prizes.

Presenting the awards at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, venue of this year’s Children’s Day Celebration, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite said the competition was organized to identify and develop writing skills in students.

Hon. Obuebite, noted that the competition which has come to stay as an annual event, would go a long way in encouraging Bayelsa children to develop interest in literary works as well as groom them to become renowned authors in the near future.

According to the Commissioner, the programme is designed in such a way that, apart from the financial benefits, the overall winner will serve as education commissioner for one working day with effect from this year’s edition.

Hon. Obuebite who lauded Governor Seriake Dickson’s achievements in the education sector, also commended the participants and their teachers for putting up a good showing.

Speaking with newsmen at St Jude’s Model Girls Secondary School Amarata, the Governor’s Speech Writer and Coordinator of the Competition, Mr Michael Afenfia disclosed that a total of 37 students took part in the essay writing.

According to Mr Afenfia, the participants representing all the eight local government areas of the state were selected from the state owned unity schools through an unbiased and transparent process.

He expressed hope that Bayelsa children would compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world as well as run a knowledge-based economy in the near future if the current efforts of state government were sustained.

In separate interviews, Master Tony James of Model Secondary School, Sagbama, Miss Appi Ebifie, Nembe National Grammar School and Master Ibimenzi Michael of Government Model Secondary School, Ogbia Town, expressed gratitude to the state government and particularly the Commissioner for Education for organising the competition.

They described the level of organization and atmosphere of the contest as excellent and conducive.

The interviewees, however, pleaded with government to sustain the programme as it has the capacity to not only expand the knowledge base of students but also enable them to make friends beyond their immediate school environment.