2024 Stem Quiz Competition Ends Successfully in Ebonyi
In a remarkable demonstration of its commitment to promoting STEM education, the Race Foundation partnered in policy and resources with Izhi in Diaspora to organize the 2024 STEM Quiz Competition for students from public secondary schools in Ebonyi State. The grand finale, held on January 11, 2025, was hailed as a resounding success.
Fr. Dr. Felix Uche Akam, leader of both organizations, highlighted the critical importance of STEM education for the present and future, lamenting the exclusion of less privileged students due to the high cost of digital learning materials. He emphasized that the competition was designed to inspire students to embrace future technological trends.
Addressing the students, the chairman of the organizing committee, Dr. Clement Amagu, urged them to view the event as an opportunity for personal growth and development. Dr. Raymond Nwakiriko, the committee secretary, encouraged participants to be ambassadors of positive change and uphold the organizers’ vision.
Comrade Tony Nwizi, Director-General of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation and a guest at the event, praised the initiative as aligned with the state’s directive to embrace STEM education. He advised students to remain serious with their studies.
Also speaking, Dr. Hillary Elom, a US-based medical doctor and member of the US Army, expressed his excitement about the students’ enthusiasm. He pledged a N100,000 scholarship for each of the top three students in both categories upon gaining university admission.
The competition featured key science subjects, including Mathematics and English, with students striving to outperform their peers.
The top three winners in both Junior and Senior categories walked away with computers and tablets, in addition to the annual N100,000 university scholarships. Participants who placed between fourth and sixteenth received cash prizes, gift items, and motivational materials to inspire continued academic excellence.
This year’s event saw over 800 students from public secondary schools participating in the initial exams, with 32 finalists representing the Junior and Senior categories at the grand finale.
The event shed light on the challenges faced by public secondary schools, often regarded as “dumping grounds for the poor” due to government neglect. Wealthier families typically enroll their children in expensive private schools, leaving public institutions struggling to deliver quality education.
The Race Foundation and Izhi in Diaspora’s initiative stands as a beacon of hope, bridging the gap for disadvantaged students and promoting educational excellence in Ebonyi State.
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