Green Park Academy, Edo State, has emerged winner of the11th edition of Seplat JV PEARLs Quiz, one of the company’s signature educational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Green Park Academy led other 130 participating schools to bag the coveted prize of N10m for a project and N100,000 scholarship for each of its three participating students.
The grand finale of the programme, which was held in Benin City, Edo State, had in attendance secondary schools from Edo and Delta States, government officials, traditional rulers, various communities from both States, media, management of the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), staff, management and board members of Seplat Energy, among others.
Deeper Life High School, Warri, Delta State; and The University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School were the second and third place winners respectively. A total of N18.675 million was awarded to the three winning schools and their participating students.
Deeper Life High school received a N5m project award and N75,000 scholarship each for its three students, while UniBen Demonstration Secondary School won N3m project award and N50,000 scholarship for each of its three students.
The Seplat JV PEARLs Quiz is executed in conjunction with its Joint Venture partner, the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL). The quiz was keenly contested, and all qualified schools and teachers were rewarded with consolation prizes.
In her opening remarks, the Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, described the initiative as an annual competition open for all secondary schools in Delta and Edo states with the main objective of improving academic performance in both states which are Seplat host states.
She said the programme also aims to rekindle the spirit of academic excellence and healthy competition amongst schools and the youth population by motivating, encouraging and rewarding the scholarship spirit, while also inculcating the benefits of teamwork. PEARLs quiz stands for Promoting Exceptional and Respectable Leaders.
Government cannot do it alone; therefore partnership with the private sector is essential to ensure that sustainable development permeates every sector of our national life.
Seplat PEARLs quiz addresses Sustainability Development Goal 4 for quality education by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for both public and private schools in Edo and Delta states, thus helping to promote lifelong learning opportunities for the teeming youth population.
Commending the company for its commitment to education and national development, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Oviawe, said Seplat Energy’s educational projects were in line with the state government’s vision for education, while the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) remains a big feat.
Also speaking, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Augustine Oghoro commended Seplat Energy, saying the initiative will surely encourage students to take their studies seriously, as students from Edo and Delta states competed in a friendly atmosphere.
‘’Undoubtedly, they will all mix and chart new friendship, know themselves better and deepen the bond of unity and love among people from the two states,” he said.
He also appealed to other corporate bodies to identify with the communities where they operate. ‘’There should be increased conscious efforts to impact positively on the lives of the people. Government cannot do it alone, therefore partnership with the private sector is essential to ensure that sustainable development permeates every sector of our national life,” he added.
