The Nation Newspaper

Tag: quiz

  • Students win at quiz competition

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Biodun Owonikoko, has organised another round of quiz competition for some secondary schools in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.

    The quiz competition, which was organised in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was held at the Iseyin Local Government Area secretariat, Iseyin.

    Hundreds of students from schools in the four local governments competed for prizes ranging from laptops to mobile phone and cash. The competing local governments were Kajola, Iwajowa, Itesiwaju and Iseyin.

    After a preliminary competition, the best three students in each participating local government were brought to Iseyin for the final competition. They were tested in English language, Mathematics and Current Affairs.

    At the end of the competition, Kajola Local Government Area came first while Iseyin and Itesiwaju came second and third respectively. Kajola and Iseyin teams went home with a laptop each while Itesiwaju team was rewarded with a mobile phone. The remaining nine participants got N5,000 cash each.

    Owonikoko, who is the Baamofin of Oke-Ogun land, explained that “the decision to begin the project in 2010 was borne out of the need to boost the interest of the younger generation in education so that they can strive for excellence. It is my own little way of supporting education development among the indigenes of Oke-Ogun where I come from.

    Represented by Alhaji Waheed Shittu, Owonikoko, a lawyer said reforming education is taxing, pointing out that it requires the support of all stakeholders.

    Emphasising the need to properly plan education, Owonikoko said: “The process of education reforms must match modern scientific and technological innovations for it to remain relevant to the learner and the nation. It also takes years for any meaningful educational reform to yield fruits. Nigeria must learn to plan its education and implement it with commitment and sense of direction for the greater good of all its citizens.”

    Also highlighting the importance of secondary education to the Nigerian society, he said: “Secondary education must be accorded the deserved priority that aims at helping our youths to develop sellable skills and knowledge to continue with their studies. Policy haste in education never gives the desired result.

    “It would be better if policies are made in such a way that changes can be accommodated without disturbing the overall system in operation. Nigerian education system should aspire for manpower training.”

    Also speaking at the event, State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akin-Moses, who was represented by the Zonal Inspector of Education for Ibarapa, Mrs. Ajose Yewise, praised the initiative of the legal icon. She congratulated the participating schools on being part of a veritable platform towards remodelling their future for the better.

  • Life Sciences wins quiz

    The Faculty of Life Sciences, UNILORIN, has won the 2015 Inter-Faculty Quiz Competition.

    At the grand finale of the competition, held last week, the University Quiz Master, Dr. R.O. Arise, who is also the Ag. Head of the Department of Biochemistry, announced that the Faculty of Life Sciences team had a total score of 610 points to beat the Faculty of Agriculture team, which could only muster 285 points, to the second position.

    The Faculty of Agriculture team was the defending champion and it had won the competition for three consecutive years.

    The winning team of the Faculty of Life Sciences comprised Oladele Olaide of the Department of Microbiology, Lawal Idris of the Department of Plant Biology and Adejumo Lukman of the Department of Zoology.

    Speaking at the event, the UNILORIN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu, Ambali, who was represented by the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. S. A. Kuranga, appreciated the efforts of the organising committee and advised students to always show interest in events such as quiz, debates and other intellectual competitions in order to develop their knowledge, widen their horizon and interact with their colleagues.

  • ‘Tiny’ teen outshines others at quiz contest

    ‘Tiny’ teen outshines others at quiz contest

    •Wins full JABU scholarship

    With his size and age, Afariogun Precious Opeyemi, an SS3 pupil of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota in Ogun State, did not seem to stand a chance to win the national quiz competition for secondary school pupils organised by Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakej in Osun State, last week.

    However, the ‘small but mighty’ Opeyemi won with style – after giving Agwamba Chibuikem Maxwell of straitway College, Ogun State a hard time.

    The 14-year-old won the heart of the audience from the first round of the last stage of the competition and was crowned, amidst cheers, after spelling correctly the winning word ‘Abacus’.

    The contestants were drilled in English Language, Mathematics and Current Affairs during the two-day competition held last Monday and Tuesday.

    Opeyemi won N200,000 worth of books, cash, desktop computer and a full scholarship to study any four-year course of his choice in JABU. Second and third placed winners, Agwamba Chibuikem and Alaani Olajumoke got half and quarter scholarships with cash and books worth hundreds of thousands of naira.

    The top 10 contestants also got prizes while all the 50 contestants were awarded certificates of participation and consolation prizes.

    Declaring the competition open, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Sola Fajana, said JABU places premium children and education because of the important roles they play in a society.

    Fajana praised the organising committee of the competition for a job well-done.

    On his part the Registrar, Mr Wale Aderibigbe, thanked Friesland Foods Limited and the Book Company for sponsoring the programme.

    The Acting Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Sam Awoniyi and the Secretary, Mr. Wale Olaosebikan assured participants that the next edition of the quiz competition would be grander.

    The judges, Dr. K.I.T. Eniola, Dr. Fatusin, Mrs. Otemuyiwa and Mimi Oka ensured that a high standard was set for the competition.

     

  • Akwa Ibom indigenes sweep computer quiz competition

    Three Akwa Ibom indigenes have been honoured by the State Government for winning the 2013 Olatunji Odegbami National Information Technology Quiz Competition for All Tertiary Institutions.

    They emerge first, second, and third in the competition. The students are Emmanuel Essiet; Ebenezer Ekere and Aniebet Emmanuel.

    Essiet is a 200L Computer Science student at University of Uyo, Ekere is 100L Computer Science Student at Akwa Ibom State University while Emmanuel, the only female winner is in Higher National Diploma 2 (HND2) at Uyo City Polytechnic.

    The 11th edition of the quiz competition was held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital with the theme and has “e-Government and National Security” as its theme.

    Presenting the cash prizes to the winners through a member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Onofiok Luke, the Special

    Assistant to the Governor on Student Matters, Ini Ememobong, said the 2012 competition in Uyo, has had Akwa Ibom indigenes emerging first and third position in the quiz competition.

    Ememobong, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS), stated that the results had justified the efforts of Governor Godswill Akpabio in developing the youths through free and compulsory education in the state.

    His words: “At the Le Meridien Hotel in 2012, we saw something that God did for the state by making sure that the efforts of the governor in developing the youths in the state through free and compulsory education is not in vain.

    “In that competition when we had other universities in Nigeria, including the first generation universities, Akwa Ibom clinched the first and third position through a student from the University of Uyo and the other from the IMFI Academy, also in Uyo.

    “We encouraged them and took them to Osun State from July 24 to 26 for the 11thInternational Conference of the Olatunji Odegbami National Information Technology Quiz Competition for All Tertiary Institutions in the Federation.

    “In Osun State, of all the higher institutions that competed: in the first and second round of the competition, all students from other universities were knocked out. The competition was only left with students from institutions in Akwa Ibom State.”

    In his speech, Essiet, who came first, said it was his determination not to let down the state that made him excel in Osun competition.

    He said: “I did not sleep throughout the night. When we entered the competition, I knew almost all the questions the quiz masters asked.”

    He explained that after the competition the first, second, and the third place winners were rewarded with laptops (first and 2nd position) and two printers – one for the first place winner and the other for the third place winner.

     

     

     

  • Delta school wins in AGIP quiz

    Delta school wins in AGIP quiz

    St. Michael Secondary School, Oleh, Delta State, has won the grand finale of this year’s Nigerian Agip Oil Company-Green River Project (NAOC-GRP) Agricultural Quiz Competition for Secondary Schools in host communities of the company in Port Harcourt.

    St Michael Secondary School scored 33 points to beat Kins Comprehensive College, Omoku, Rivers State, which scored 13 and half points to take the second position in the contest that started on May 2 with 74 secondary schools from the host communities.

    While 30 secondary schools came from the swampy area, 44 came from the land area of NAOC host communities spread across Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers states. Incidentally, the first and second prize winners are from the land area.

    For coming tops, St Michael Secondary School, went home with a trophy, shield, laptop computers for the students and the teacher, agricultural text books, slashing machine, knapsack sprayer, wheel barrow and spades.

    Kins Comprehensive College, Omoku was presented with a shield, laptop computers for the students and the teacher, agricultural text books, slashing machine, knapsack sprayer and spades.

    Government Secondary School, Ndoni, Rivers State which emerged third position in the semi-final got a plaque, laptop computers for the students and the teacher, agricultural text books, slashing machine and knapsack sprayer while consolation prizes of agricultural text books were given to other schools that participated in the competition.

    The three pupils who represented St Michael Secondary School in the quiz competition were given a one academic year scholarship while Miss Ijeoma Ahiakwo, one of the representatives of Kins Comprehensive College, Omoku, who already has a scholarship from NAOC running is allowed to continue with it.

    The Public Relations, Communication and Government Liaison Manager of NAOC, Prince Nwachukwu Obi, who represented the firm at the event, said the competition which made some of the pupils to shed tears and emotion is an indication of their desire to rise.

    Obi said the contest is channelled towards human development because while the company produced oil, “man cannot use it if he does not know how.”

    Obi noted that no nation working with it government apparatchik can develop the country alone; adding that its concerted efforts by government, organisations and individuals would achieve greatness.

    He also expressed hope that the competition would in future “create greater minds that will not cram but have the knowledge and be able to apply it when need be.”

    He commended the participants’ teachers for imparting knowledge into them. He expressed hope that someday the company would celebrate them since he does not believe teachers reward should be in heaven alone.

     

  • Cross River lawmakers quiz council chairmen

    Members of the Cross River State House of Assembly yesterday interrogated local government council chairmen on their finances since January, last year.

    The House had earlier directed chairmen of the 18 local governments to appear before it yesterday to explain their refusal to submit their financial statements.

    Fifteen chairmen showed up yesterday, the vice chairman of Ogoja stood in for his boss.

    However, only nine were questioned due to time constraint. Akpabuyo and Bekwarra local governments’ chairmen were absent.

    The lawmakers were mostly unsatisfied with the excuses given by the chairmen.

    Chairman of Calabar Municipality Eta Mbora was praised by the Speaker, Larry Odey, for being more compliant than the others.

    Chairman of Boki Jonas Otu admitted guilt, as did most of his colleagues.

    He promised to get the necessary documents to the House.

    Chairmen who were questioned yesterday included those of Akamkpa, Abi, Bakassi, Biase, Boki, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South and Etung.

    Odey said the remaining chairmen would face them on April 3.

    Odey said the exercise was not to witch hunt anybody but to get the chairmen to ensure that the right thing is done.

    He said the magnitude of abuse at the local governments was to the extent that “we can no longer close our eyes.”

  • Oyo police quiz Folarin on ‘meeting’ with Tokyo

    Oyo police quiz Folarin on ‘meeting’ with Tokyo

    Former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin was yesterday quizzed by the Oyo State Police Command over allegations that he held a secret meeting with the factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a. Tokyo) to destabilise the state.

    Folarin met with the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, behind closed doors for about one hour.

    It was learnt that the politician denied the allegation.

    An Ibadan-based group, Frontline for Justice, also alleged that Folarin’s house was raided by the police.

    The group, in a statement by its Coordinaor, Hammid Yusuf, yesterday condemned the raid.

    It alleged that the police ordered the raid following an allegation that Folarin and Akinsola had stockpiled arms.

    Mbu denied the allegation that the police raided Folarin’s home. He said he invited the former Senate Leader based on a security report.

    Mbu said policemen went to Folarin’s house to invite him and the politician later showed up by himself.

    On his discussion with Folarin, the CP said: “Our discussion was wonderful. It lasted less than one hour. We got a security report on him. I invited him to hear his side and confirm the authenticity of the report. He came to the police by himself and we discussed.”

    Folarin denied meeting with Akinsola in the wee hours of yesterday.

    He said he set out early yesterday for a trip to Lagos and later Abeokuta, where he planned to meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when he was informed on the phone of a heavy police presence at his Oluyole home.

    Folarin said: “Immediately, I made a detour and put a call through to the commissioner of police, who told me that the police was acting on the petition that I met with Tokyo around 1.30am to disrupt the peace in the state. I denied the allegation and I think it is a grand design by some politicians to give me the Eleweomo treatment.”

  • Reps quiz Fed FCC chief on 2012 budget

    The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character Commission yesterday quizzed the commission on its allocations in the 2012 Budget.

    The committee’s Chairman, Ahmed Idris, who led other committee members to the commission, said Nigerians must know how the 2012 Budget was used.

    He said: “Members are here on the order of the House of Representatives for oversight function in relation to the 2012 Budget, to know how much was spent on overhead, personnel, capital expenditure and the balance of whatever amount the budget was.

    “We would like to have a complete breakdown of every money spent, figures and beneficiaries. The third quarter has ended and the commission has not shown any sign that the fund made available has been used judiciously.”

    The Chairman of FCC, Prof. Shuiabu Oba AbdulRaheem, said only N40million was allocated to the commission in the 2012 Budget.

    He said of the N40million, N16million was released, and it was released in three batches.

    “Of the N40million, N16million has been released and this was in three batches. The first was N6.4million, the second N1.1million and the third N8million.

    “Of the N16million, the commission is supposed to maintain the 36 states in the federation, including the headquarters in FCT. The commission has no functioning ICT, though the contract has gone out but not paid for because we are not sure of funds yet.

    “The commission is really short of funds. The building we are occupying is a rented building, yet we are expected to pay our rent from this N40million. Monitoring, promotion and enforcement all come from this money. All this are capital-intensive.”

    Idris said N40million was small to run the organisation.

    “The government has been very cunning, especially with the budget. If the government cannot take care of a big institution like this, it means there is something wrong,” he said.

     

  • $620,000 bribe: Police quiz Lawan, Emenalo again

    $620,000 bribe: Police quiz Lawan, Emenalo again

    SUSPENDED House Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime chair Farouk Lawan kept another date with the police yesterday.

    Lawan got more questions on the $620,000 bribe allegation hurled at him by businessman Mr. Femi Otedola, who said he hand him the cash to get his company’s name off the list of those indicted in the subsidy probe.

    Lawan and the Clerk of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, got more questions from the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force CID, Mr. Ali Amodu, following a letter from the government prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

    The two suspects will report at the FCID today to answer the questions in writing after taking the oath to be truthful.

    But the police have also decided to re-invite Otedola and the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Drugs and Narcotics, Mr. Adam Jagaba, who Lawan claimed to have given the $600,000 bribe for transmission to the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

    It was learnt that the police may probe Jagaba’s medical records as part of their search for the bribe cash.

    Lawan and Emenalo reported at the FCID as part of their bail bond, but the situation took a new turn as the police placed them on additional investigation.

    It was learnt that the two suspects were told that they had to go through another round of additional investigation at the prompting of the government prosecutor.

    A source said: “When the two suspects (Lawan and Emenalo) reported at the FCID, they were served questions by the CP. But Lawan queried why the police will subject them to investigation after recommending them for trial.

    “Lawan alleged that since the police had made up their mind that they had a case to answer, they should just go ahead with their arraignment in court.

    “But the CP took time to explain that the additional investigation was at the prompting of the government prosecutor.”

    The source quoted Lawan as saying: “Let us take the questions home to study, we will come and make statements on oath or under caution later.”

    According to the source, “Lawan and Emenalo were served with the questions and directed to report on Thursday for interrogation and writing of statements under caution.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “Certainly, we will re-invite Otedola and Jagaba.

    “Jagaba’s case is peculiar because Lawan said he met him at about 3.47am and handed over $500,000 out of the $620,000 to him. But Jagaba said he could not have met Lawan at 3am because of his health challenge as a result of which he sleeps by 10pm.

    “Now, the police will probe the medical records and his medication to ascertain whether he has a life-threatening ailment as claimed.

    “The real challenge is locating the whereabouts of the $620,000.”

    The prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega (SAN), has written the police on what he is expecting on fresh angles to the case.

    He, specifically, asked the Police to obtain a statement from the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, as a follow-up to his letter on how Lawan approached him and ignored his advice for a sting operation by the anti-graft agency.

    The prosecution team’s demands are as follows: “Police to obtain statement from each and every member of the House Ad Hoc Committee. They should make statement of their knowledge of the transactions and communication between Otedola and Farouk with regard to the $3m and if they have knowledge of wether $120,000 was given to the Secretary. When did they become aware?

    “Whether they were a part of the House leadership meeting that made the Resolution not to display the money. Who brought the money and where was it as at 6th of June, and who took custody of it thereafter?

    “The members will also say whether they were aware of reports to Jagaba and EFCC and if they were aware, when and how they became aware.

    “Police to investigate the security guards at Jagaba’s house, especially the security man on duty on the 24th April 2012 (if there was any).

    “Police to confirm medically and scientifically the ‘life time medication’ of Jagaba, the source, the duration of such medication. Check the correctness of the claim – Jagaba should not be believed without cross checking.

    “Where is the $600,000 or $620,000? It must be established. Note the meeting of House Leadership, i.e. Deputy Speaker, Hon Bashiru Adamu and Hon Adams Jagaba – statement of each of them (Lawan’s statement of 14/06/2012).

    “Confirm whether the House Leadership knew of the money with Jagaba as at 29th May. Confirm the serial number of the $100 bills obtained from Emenalo’s house. Whether it accords with that issued by SSS.

    “Whether the $10,000 recovered from Lawan has the same serial numbers of the US dollar bills as those issued by the SSS to Mr. Femi Otedola.

    “To obtain statements from the SSS operatives who conducted the sting operation. A statement should be obtained from Mr. Lamorde – in line with his letter of 4th July 2012. His letter is not a statement admissible in a court of law).

    “To obtain CTC of the following documents: Hansard of the House sitting of 8th January 2012 (there should be terms of reference). Rules and procedure of the committee; The Hansard of the proceedings of the 18th and 24th April, 2012; The PPPRA subsidy scam from Mr. Femi Otedola; The letter of Mr. Otedola to SSS, dated 18th April, 2012; The register/serial number, copy of the SSS of $620,000 bills.”