Ayotomiwa Elesho, 23, a 200-level Political Science student of the University of Ibadan, has clinched the One million naira star prize of the 6th edition of the Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB.
Other students, who won prizes at the event held in Yenagoa, on Wednesday, include, 23-year-old Victor Sunday from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who emerged second, carting away N700,000, Doutimibraladei Timothy Frank, a 100-level student in the department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, emerged third, winning N500,000.
other participants in the competition, who were compensated with various prizes include, Jonah Bonaventure Alidor from Ebonyi State, who came fourth, Abdullah Yaqub from Oyo State, fifth position, Oluwafela Bibire, sixth position, among others.
In his remarks at the epoch-making event held at Nostalgia Cinema, Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Simbi Wabote expressed excitement that NCDMB had sustained the sponsorship of the program for six years, saying it was an indication of the importance of the competition and the impact it is making among the target participants.
Wabote, who was represented at the event by the Head of Corporate Communications, Barr. Esueme Dan-Kikile, said NCDMB would continue to introduce programs that would engage Nigerian youths, especially the undergraduates.
He said, “The Annual National Undergraduates’ Essay Competition is one of NCDMB’s multiple interventions to lift the standard of education in Nigeria. It aims to promote proficiency in writing, awareness of local content and its benefit to the national economy, and to engender citizen engagement from undergraduate level.
“The topic was expected to stimulate the young ones to deploy their creativity in capturing the strategies that should be considered in transiting into cleaner energy as well as appraise the Board’s interventions in this light. I received feedback that the participants have done very well.
He recalled that in March 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari declared the years, 2021 to 2030, as Nigeria’s Decade of Gas and the Federal Government’s determination to fully exploit the nation’s abundant gas resources to accelerate the economic development of the country.
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According to Wabote, the declaration aligns fully with the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources, adding that in August 2022, the Federal Government also launched the Energy Transition Plan which was applauded by the United States Government for being the first in the African Continent.
“This is why we chose the topic of this year’s competition to focus on “Strategizing for Transformation to Clean Energy Landscape: The NCDMB Intervention.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion Sen. Inatimi Rufus Spiff said, the topic for the essay competition couldn’t have been more apt with the effects of climate change ravaging the global landscape where nations now look for alternative sources of energy.
He challenged the youths in tertiary institutions to share their perspectives on the theme of this year’s competition, “Strategizing for Transformation to Clean Energy Landscape: The NCDMB Intervention.”
The chairman added, “Since its establishment, the NCDMB has impacted and enhanced local participation in the oil and gas industry in an appreciable manner.
“The era where artisans and other unskilled personnel were brought from abroad to work in the oil and gas industry even where local capacity abound has become a thing of the past.
“To NCDMB, the organizing institution, I wish to thank the management and staff for the initiative which in all ramifications is worthy of emulation.”
Chief Executive Officer of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, consultants to the NCDMB, Mr Eyinimi Omorozi described the competition as one of the biggest flagship events of NCDMB, adding that the board has been supporting the competition because they have seen the success.
He said, “In the next five years, we want to see the competition grow where it will be recognized all over the world so that Nigerians outside will participate in the program.”
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