The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated this during the grand finale of the NDDC Secondary School Quiz held in Port Harcourt.
Ogbuku, who was represented by the Director of Education, Health, and Social Services, Dr George Uzonwanne, stated that the NDDC considered education as crucial in the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
He noted: “A well-grounded education is a bedrock for success in the future. This competition aims to get the best among students in the region. We strive to establish a value for education in the area.
“We also want to identify the gaps and weaknesses to help ascertain where schools require intervention. During this competition, we observed that chemistry has been a consistent issue for students compared to mathematics and physics. Gaps like this are identified through competitions. As an interventionist agency, we will build support and enhance capacity in these fields.”
The NDDC Boss noted that the world is in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Hence, the competition focused more on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). He stressed, “We focused more on science-based subjects because of the Industrial Revolution. We have physics, chemistry, and biology under the sciences. The next edition of this competition would accommodate more subjects.”
“The participants of this competition have done excellently well. The standards of the competition are very high. Some of the questions asked are tertiary level but the children were able to deal with it. I want to encourage the children to remain steadfast in their educational pursuit as they are the future of the region.”
The Lead Consultant for the competition, Mr. Jude Ndubuisi, thanked the NDDC for its significant contribution to educational development, noting, “This competition supports the vision of the NDDC to ensure education continues to be what it is supposed to be. The Niger Delta is known for producing talents, not just in sports and music, but also in the intellectual sphere.
“The students are also excited. This competition is an inspiring moment for them. During the preliminaries, we identified great scientists. You should see the remarkable intelligence of these children. For some of them, it is their first time in Port Harcourt.”
The DSC Technical High School, representing Delta State, emerged as the winner of the competition, receiving cash gifts and laptops for the school and participating students
