A primary one pupil, Sophia Chizaram Iheohakara, from Amamife Primary School, Awka has grabbed three awards of Overall best pupil, best in mathematics and the perfect GPA champion.

 

She grabbed the awards in the 2023 Nduka Foundation zonal written quiz taken on 16th May for selected primary schools in the six educational zones and twenty-one Local Governments Educational Authority in Anambra State.

The award for recognition of academic excellence among public and mission primary schools in Anambra State was organized by Nduka Foundation in conjunction with Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB.

 

The ceremony which attracted primary school pupils, teachers, officials of the Nduka Foundation, ASUBEB officials among others took place in Awka.

Nduka Foundation was born out of the dreams of the founder, Chief Dr Chinwe Nduka, a practicing physician in the United States of America to feed the needy and cover tuitions for smart children who could not afford formal education.

 

In her speech, the founder, Chief Nduka explained that the purpose of the quiz competition is to spur Anambra pupils at the infantry stage of their education into higher ambitions.

 

She noted that the Nduka Foundation recognizes the need to catch the children early in their development to plant and water the seeds of hard work and inculcate in them a sense of diligence and a competitive spirit and seek creative ways to rekindle interest among teachers to execute their jobs with enthusiasm.

 

Anambra State Head of Service, Lady Theodora Igwegbe in her remarks commended the foundation for giving back to the society and mentioned various benefits of scholarships to educational ambitions of students.

In a goodwill message, the ASUBEB Chairman, Dr Vera Nwadinobi pointed out that the board and entire state is aware of the long-standing philanthropic gestures of Nduka Foundation which she said has availed pupils the opportunity to secure scholarship thereby improving learning and reducing the number of out- of-school children in Anambra State.

 

For the chairman on the occasion, Mrs. Ndidi Oranusi, the objective of the quiz is to pick out the best pupils to be awarded a scholarship to use the avenue to support basic education in Anambra State and to stir up the spirit of academic competition among learners in primary schools.

 

The Director, Quality Assurance, ASUBEB, Lady Stella -Maris Ezepue, stated that research has shown that the importance of education in the daily lives of man cannot be overemphasized and provides an opportunity for the poor to dine with the wealthy and urged the pupils to take their academic work seriously.

In their separate remarks the overall best pupil, Miss Iheohakara and Oluebube Nwosu, primary six pupil who took first position in Nnewi zone thanked the foundation for giving them the awards.

 

The award for best teacher went to Chidimma Okafor also from Amamife Primary School, Awka.

 

Best school award went to Immaculate Nursery/Primary School, Nnewi while Reverend Sister Maureen Onyeche of the same school went home with the best administrator award and Nnewi Zone emerged the best educational zone.

 

Award presentation, welcome songs, cultural dance, and Indian dance climaxed the event.