Funmi Ogundare
The Bells Comprehensive College, Ota, Ogun, has emerged as the winner of the 10th edition of the Winifred Awosika Foundation Secondary Schools quiz challenge, aimed at fostering healthy academic rivalry and excellence among students.
The school scored 30 points to beat Crescent International School, Ota, and Grace High School, Gbagada, who scored 28 and 27 points to emerge in second and third positions, respectively.
The winning school, represented by Master Musa Abdulrahman Zyad and Kunle Dauda, smiled home with a deep freezer. While the second and third-place winners got fridges and water dispensers, respectively.
Other winners who emerged fourth to 10 positions, as well as participants, received prizes.
Speaking at the grand finale held recently at Chrisland Pre-Degree College, Lekki, Lagos, the Guest Speaker and Acting Controller of the Post Examination Department, West African Examination Council ( WAEC), Mr Bisi Sofela, advised the students to put in a lot of hard work to achieve academic excellence, adding that they must not relent in their efforts.
He admonished them to always pay attention to details for them to be at their peak, adding that there is no shortcut to success, as hard work is a constant practice.
Sofela pointed out that a student must be hardworking to achieve academic excellence, noting that there must be a thorough job and extensive reading “every day so that you come out with flying colours at the end of the day, and that means you must not relent in your efforts.” Students must also shun social vices, including examination malpractices.”
He also advised them to seek medical help for mental health challenges by going to a psychiatric counsellor, where they will be given adequate attention.
In his remarks, the Executive Head of Schools Academics, Chrisland Schools Limited and a representative of Winifred Awosika Foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsola, explained that the essence of the competition was to bring students together to foster healthy competition and understand the importance of excellence in what they do, adding that it covers Mathematics, Further maths, sciences and general paper which comprises English language, geography, economics, etc.
He advised the participants that the only key to hard work is diligence, persistence, and resilience, which will make them move on. He added that they should see the competition as an avenue to socialize with their contemporaries outside their schools.
