By Obiageli Nwankwo
The Anambra State Ministry of Education has presented cash prizes, laptops, trophies and other educational gifts donated by the Ken Obinna Foundation to winners of the Brain Blast Quiz Competition in recognition of their outstanding academic performance.
The presentation ceremony, held at the Ministry of Education, State Secretariat Complex, Awka, on July 24, honoured 26 pupils and students who emerged winners from a field of 139 participants in the English and Mathematics quiz competition.
The competition, sponsored by the Ken Obinna Foundation, featured pupils in Primary Four to Six and secondary school students. It was designed to promote academic excellence, encourage healthy competition and inspire a culture of learning among young people across Anambra State.
In the secondary school category, Miss Vera Aniekwe of St. Patrick’s College, Awka, emerged overall winner. She received a cash prize of ₦500,000, a laptop and educational materials, while her school was presented with a golden trophy, which is redeemable for ₦150,000 by the Foundation.
In the primary school category, Master Delight Okeke of Holy Ghost International Nursery and Primary School emerged overall winner, receiving ₦250,000, a laptop and other educational gifts. His school also received a golden trophy from the Foundation.
Presenting the awards, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Longinus Ogugua, congratulated the winners and encouraged them to remain focused, hardworking and committed to academic excellence, noting that sustained success is built on discipline, consistency, and determination.
Dr. Ogugua commended the Ken Obinna Foundation for investing in education and nurturing young talents, describing the initiative as a valuable contribution to the development of the state’s education sector.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration to improving education through free education, teacher recruitment and the integration of digital learning technologies in public schools.
“We are transforming education through digital innovation, and you, the future generation, will be the greatest beneficiaries,” the commissioner said.
Earlier, the Foundation’s representative, Engr. C. Y. Anetoh, who is also the President-General of Adazi-Nnukwu, commended Governor Soludo’s education reforms and the leadership of the Ministry of Education, saying the Brain Blast Quiz Competition was established to identify and nurture exceptional academic talents while expanding educational opportunities for students across the state.
Engr. Anetoh announced that the Foundation plans to make the Brain Blast Quiz Competition an annual event to encourage excellence and inspire more students to strive for academic success.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards to the winners, celebrating excellence and reinforcing the importance of education in shaping the future of Anambra State.
Obiageli Nwankwo is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
