The Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones, has called on well spirited individuals and organisations to support the funding of education in the state.

Jones made the call at the inauguration of the Inter-School Competition, sponsored by Pharmacist Abdulkareem Asuku Youth Empowerment Foundation (PAAYEF) held on Saturday at Our Lady of Schools Anyigba, for the Eastern Senatorial District.

The inter-school competition tagged ”Reviving the Glory of Education” was organised by PAAYEF to facilitate access to quality education and open opportunities for Kogi students.

The commissioner said that the inter-school competition sponsored by PAAYEF was quite a phenomenal in the history of education in the state.

“’We are glad that PAAYEF has responded to the call of government on individuals and organisations for private partnership in transforming the state’s education sector.

“Education is a social service that requires massive funding. The government is doing a lot but government alone cannot do it.

“I appeal to well spirited individuals in our society,  especially those who have benefitted from education to come out and support us.

“We will be glad if people that have the resources would support us in things like this that will bring back the glorious days of education to our state”, he said.

Jones praised the governor for showing total commitment and dedication to the transformation of education in the state.

He expressed his excitement over the brilliant performance of the students at the competition, saying, ”I am extremely excited with what I have seen here today.

“It shows that what we need is just a little bid of push and we will get the best out of our students. I am excited with what has happened today.“

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The Focal Person of PAAYEF, Hon. Sandra Musa, noted that the selected schools were those who had proved to be up to the task without any political influence.

She explained that two schools were selected from each LGA and three students from each school for the zonal level of the competition.

She added that the selected schools in the Central Zone would hold their quiz competition at Abdulaziz Atta Memorial College, Okene, while those of the Western District would be held at St. Augustine School, Kabba.

According to her, the best three schools in each senatorial district will proceed to Lokoja for the final round of the quiz and essay competition where overall winners would emerge.

She said any student who emerged the overall best would get a full scholarship up to university level and the second best student would get a scholarship for secondary school education.

Musa said the student who emerged third would get a year scholarship in the secondary school.

She added that PAAYEF would also be giving awards and gifts to the best student, school and competitor at the final round in Lokoja.

NAN reports that total of 14 out of the 18 selected schools across the nine LGAs in the eastern senatorial district, participated in the quiz competition.

The quiz subjects were English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and General Paper.

At the end of the competition, Government Secondary School Okenya, Igalamela/Odolu LGA, emerged first; St. Peter’s College, Idah, came second while the host, Our Lady of Schools, Anyigba came third.

The three schools would represent the eastern senatorial district at the grand finale of the competition in Lokoja. (NAN)