AS part its collaboration with the United States Agency for African Development, USAID, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, has sponsored the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Ibadan Branch Chairman’s quiz competition for secondary schools. The sponsorship is part of the Disco’s Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, to focus on educational development for students especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM.

John Ayodele, the chief operating officer, IBEDC, disclosed this at the finals of the event which took place at Technical Hall of the University of Ibadan, UI. He said it was a good platform to promote and encourage students in the engineering field.

Ayodele, who was represented by Ade Ayileka, the chief technical officer, IBEDC, said: “We must give the future generation some level of mentorship to aid continuity of this profession. As a corporate body, IBEDC is very passionate about the educational sector which is why we take this quiz competition seriously. “I want to encourage and express to every student here to give their best and always remember that this is a quiz competition, everyone here is already a winner.”

He said that the quiz competition had students from Orita-mefa Baptist Model College Total Garden, Oladipo Alayande School of Science Oke Bola, Loyola College Old Ife road and Command Day Secondary School Odogbo Cantonment. “Bishop Philip Academy Iwo road and Adelayo Academy Wakajaya Iyana Church participated in five rounds of quiz questions in English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics subjects.

“These six selected schools emerged from pre-competitions comprising 36 schools. Following a grueling seven rounds, while Orita-mefa Baptist Model School emerged winner of the competition. Command Day Secondary School and Oladipo Alayande School of Science came 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

Also, Angela Olanrewaju, the head Branding and Corporate Communication IBEDC said it was an opportunity to groom young people into the field of sciences which was critical to the development of Nigeria. Olanrewaju said the prizes won include a computer desktop systems, textbooks and teaching aids for the winner; Computer desktop and textbooks for the second place; teaching aid and textbooks for the third place, while textbooks was given as consolation prizes for other schools  as well as IBEDC branded gift items for all participants. According to her, these prizes will directly impact on the lives of the children and prizes will be improved on from here on to encourage more schools to participate.

Speaking on the occasion, Adedamola Falade-Fatila, the chairman of the NSE, said the quiz was an annual competition and had become a pet project of the Ibadan branch of the association. “The idea was to encourage students to cultivate interests in the science and technology fields. We started this initiative in 2018 with fewer schools and less support. But thankfully, we found partners who share our vision. That is why we really appreciate the IBEDC for coming on board to sponsor this year’s competition,” he said.

– Apr. 16, 2019 @ 11:45 GMT |