A Director of British Spring College (BSC), Awka, Anambra State Southeast Nigeria, Uju Dike has called for a partnership among stakeholders in education to reposition the sector through promoting excellence and healthy competitions among Primary and Secondary students.
Dike made the call while presenting scholarships and other educational prizes to the winners of 7th edition of Lady Uju Dike/BSC Scholarship Scheme in Awka Anambra State capital. The scheme is her annual Mathematics Computer Based Test (CBT) competition organised for primary 5 and 6 pupils across schools in the Southeastern Nigeria.
According to her, with quiz, debates and other healthy competitions and investments, stars would be discovered, nurtured, inspired and encouraged to strive for excellence which would in turn impact positively on the society across all sectors.
She, however, urged Primary and Secondary students never to feel depressed or suppressed even when they loose out in any competition at any level of their education.
She said; “All the students who participated in the quiz competitions here are the best and remain the best. A child that is good is still good. The students performed above expectations. But the winners are probably those who were more careful than others. Our interests are on the stars because there are those who are gifted no matter what.”
On what informed her decisions to set up such a unique and huge competition, Dike said; “The inspiration was borne out of her love for quality education as a mother. I decided to do something special for all the kids in Southeast. God has been fruitful. It’s all about giving back and appreciating God. This programme is fully sponsored by British Spring College, I didn’t go looking for sponsors, but Zenith Bank has been of great assistance. I need to bless other families for what God has been doing for us here. And also, I want to reward excellence and hard work.”
Addressing some of the pupils who were not rewarded, Dike said, “If you are here, know that you are special and brilliant, all the pupils that took the examination are all the same level academically, it is just that in every competition, there must be a winner. For some of you who didn’t make it to the top three or win any scholarship at all, I want to tell you that you shouldn’t give up. That you did not get to win the prize today does not mean you won’t win it some other time. God will definitely locate you and place you where in your rightful place, sooner or later.
“As for the winners, I say a very big congratulations to them and their families, we hope to see them in September for the kick off of their academic journey as Junior Secondary School (JSS1) students and then continue the good works.”
On his part, the Principal, British Spring College, Mr Christine Obi, stated that the institution would never relent in promoting excellence as it has in the past produced graduates excelling in all endeavours across the world.
The overall best pupil in the BSC 2024, Mathematics Competition, Ukeachu Precious Chidimma from Diamond Special School Owerri, Imo State, received 200,000 Naira in cash prize, a plaque and 100% scholarship while the Mathematics teacher got 150,000 and the school received a brand new printer.
Udo Jacob Godslove from the same Diamond Special School Owerri, who came second, got 100,000 Naira cash prize, a plaque and 75% discount on tuition while the school got a brand new printer and the teacher, 75,000 Naira.
The 3rd position went to Asiegbunam Chimdalu, from Best Brain School Onitsha, who received 50,000 Naira cash price, 50% discount on tuition, and a plaque. The Maths teacher got 30,000 Naira and the school received a brand new printer.
Others were in 4th position, Adekunle Emmanuel with a score of 90% and Marcel Chimbuchi, 5th position with an average of 87.75% among others, went home with medals.
Some of the parents who spoke at the event, including a journalist, Mr Emmanuel Asiegbu and a teacher, Mrs Chidinma Okafor, praised the BSC boss for the scholarship programme, saying it would help to reposition education sector if sustained with more initiatives.
Speaking to journalists, Mr Hillary Ononye, the Mathematics teacher, at Spring Field Academy Onitsha attributed the secret behind his pupil emerging overall best in the competition, to hard work, enthusiasm and the teachers ability to transfer knowledge.
He said; “I expect the school to keep on nurturing them to become better and expose them to more competitions to become better than they were.”
Some pupils who participated, including Master Chimdalu Asiegbu and Miss Chimdinma Daimond promised to work harder to become great in life, while urging their benefactor to sustain the tempo.
BSC/Uju Dike’s scholarships scheme at the event, aside other gifts and offers presented to successful pupils, awarded automatic scholarships to two students to study from class one to six at the British Spring College, a co-educational full-boarding international secondary school approved by the British Council and the Federal /State Ministry of Education.
The 7th edition of the competition which was themed “Discover the Stars Within” had a total of 432 pupils from primary schools in Southeastern Nigeria competing for the overall best pupil.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
