By Joke Adeniyi-Jackson
Towards expanding students knowledge and cognitive skills, a sociocultural group, the Pakata Patriot organised quiz competition among secondary schools in Ilorin, Kwara State last Wednesday.
Five secondary schools participated in the keenly competed competition, held at Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Ilorin.
In her speech at the event, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Bilikisu Oniyangi commended the organisers for the gesture aimed at complementing the state governments effort at developing students educationally.
Represented by the Deputy Director in the ministry, Hajia Afusat Nike Ibrahim, she urged the group not to rest on their oars but continue to contribute to the development of the state in general.
She stressed that the state government is making concerted efforts to ensure that students in public schools can compete favourably with their counterparts in private educational institutions.
She urged students to be focused on their studies and shun examination malpractices and drug abuse among other vices that could destroy their future.
In his opening remarks at the event, Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji AbdulRasaq Gold commended the group for the initiative aimed at improving educational development of the younger generation.
While urging other socio- cultural groups to take a cue from the organisers of the event, he noted that the quiz competition will boost the participants’ confidence as well as educational and social exposure.
In his address, the President, Pakata Patriots, Ilorin, Mallam Shehu Aliyu said the programme is a follow-up to previous efforts of the association, targeted at promoting learning and impacting spirit of intellectual sportsmanship among students.
He assured that the association will continue to pursue all round development of the Pakata community to make it a pacesetter among comity of communities in Ilorin, the state capital.
He noted that the Pakata Patriot facilitated the allocation of a Divisional Police Station in Pakata/Oke Fomo axis, which will soon take-off.
Also speaking, the Principal of Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ramat Alhaja Abdulraham, said the impressive outcome of the previous competition prompted her to donate trophy for the educational programme.
She lauded the organisers for the interest shown in the educational development of the area and giving back to the community in which they hail from.
However, the schools that participated in the competition were Anifowose Junior Secondary School; Government Day Secondary School, Pakata; Pakata Junior Secondary School; Barakat Secondary School and Gbemisola Madi Junior Secondary School, all in Ilorin.
Gbemisola Madi emerged winner of the competition with 43points while Barakat Junior Secondary School came second with 37 points and the third position was clinched by Pakata Junior Secondary School with 32points.
Government Girls’ Day Secondary School and Anifowose Junior Secondary School, came 4th and 5th with 29 and 27 points respectively.
Present at the event, were the Chairman, Kwara State Teaching Service, Hon. Ibrahim Abdulrasaq, Acting Education Secretary in the state, Alhaji Lateef Adedigba and Chairperson of the occasion, Ramat Toyin Badmus and Alangua of Pakata Ubandawaki, Alhaji Baba Olobi Giwa, among other notable dignitaries.
