STEM quiz contest feature 80 Anambra pupils
Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, quiz competition has taken place with a total of 80 secondary pupils in Anambra State who slugged it out in a science quiz contest organized by Alphonsus Ofumelu Foundation (AOF), a non-governmental organisation.
The pupils, drawn from six public and mission schools in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state, were quizzed on basic science subjects.
The competition, held at Community Secondary School, Igbakwu, within the council area, witnessed five persons representing each of the 16 schools in attendance.
The quiz was in written form with 100 questions covering sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The competition’s Coordinator, Mr. Nweke Johnson Okwudili, said the exercise tagged: “Science students quiz competition” was conceived to help upcoming pupils develop greater interest in sciences and technology.
He said the competition, sponsored by Sir Alphonsus Ofumelu, a Canada-based health professional and a native of the community, aimed at enthroning academic excellence among the students.
He said: “The financier of this competition, Sir Alphonsus Ofumelu, felt that there is dearth of science professionals in Ayamelum Local Government compared to other parts of Anambra State.
“Majority of those who have the privilege of having higher education here major in arts and management.
“Since there is dire need to have adequate science professionals in our area in line with the demands of the present time, Alphonsus felt sponsoring this kind of exercise would boost the morale of the upcoming ones to excel in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
Okwudili assured that Ofumelu would sponsor students, who would excel in sciences and would want to major in STEM at the university level.
He charged students and schools in the area to make the best use of the opportunity.
The star prize winner Nwabunwanne Peter Odinaka, of Community Secondary School, Omor, emerged overall best with 72 marks. Odinaka said he was encouraged by his parents to learn and show greater improvement in the sciences.
Odinaka, who received a cash prize of N50,000 from the foundation, also praised his science teachers, who he said, were very dedicated and hardworking.
On her part, the first runner up Anedo Rebecca Chinwe of Community Secondary School, Omor, who went home with N30,000, linked her success to her ability to study hard, adding that she had been very versatile in reading.
Onyibor Cornelius and Nwankwo Emmanuel, who represented Mater Christi Secondary School, Umumbo and Community Secondary School, Igbakwu shared the third position, having scored equal marks after series of drills.
An observer, Chigbogu Paul Chigbogu, commended the initiative, describing it as a boost to the study of sciences among students in the area.
