Kogi commissioner rewards ‘brilliant students’ with cash prizes

Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi commissioner for information and communications,  on Monday, gave out cash prizes to students who came out on top at the “TISU/FANWO Brain Challenge”.

The competition held at Takete Ide Amuro area of Kogi state.

The annual competition featured students from various higher institutions of learning across the country, and questions for the competition were set on different subjects.

At the end of the competition, Opeyemi Akinola of the University of Ilorin came first with 63 percent; Mayowa Jimoh from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, came second with 60 percent, while Victor Adetinuyo scored 56 percent.

A cash prize of N100,000 was given to Akinola; N80,000 to Jimoh, and N50,000 to Adetinuyo.

The commissioner also distributed books to all the participants.

According to Fanwo, the gesture was to spark the spirit of academic excellence among the students.

“We are battling with a lot of social vices today because our youths have left the path of academic competition for the fast lane of quick riches. We have to bring them to the right lane,” Fanwo said.

“Those who have won here will not struggle too much for their fees in school. We have done something to ameliorate their struggle.

“I am a bit emotional about the girl that came second. She has lost her dad and her uncle has been the one sponsoring her. She did so well in the competition and she has automatically become Miss Takete Ide as the girl with the highest score as well as a scholarship from me.

“We have to do everything within our powers to encourage the girl child. We have changed how Miss Takete will be emerging. It is not going to be about beauty alone anymore, but brains.”

Fanwo said efforts are on to extend the competition to cover the entire Yagbaland.

Moses Alumo, executive chairman of Mopamuro LGA, said the initiative is in line with his administration’s plan to bring back “the lost educational glory of the LGA”.

“What the commissioner has done today is plausible and we have come to identify with him because the initiative is in line with our administration’s determination to bring back the lost academic glory of Mopamuro LGA,” Alumo said.

“I want to encourage the students to take advantage of this programme to bounce back from their lack of seriousness with their educational career.”