The Banquet Hall of Imaguero College, Benin, was agog on Thursday, November 18th, 2020, when Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc held the 9th edition of its annual PEARLs (Preparing Exceptional and Responsible Leaders) Quiz Competition.
The epoch event was also spiced with cultural displays plus scintillating and choreographed dance steps by the students who thrilled the audience made up of top personalities from Edo and the neighbouring Delta State endlessly.
In her welcome address, the General Manager, External Affairs and Communications, Chioma Nwachuku, said that the company know the value of education and that is why it has been organising the programme in the last eight years, adding that 45,140 students have benefitted from the programme thus far.
Nwachuku promised that better days lay ahead of stakeholders of its host communities as the company is constantly coming forth with new initiatives that can bring succour to the communities
Apart from the quiz programme, she disclosed that the company has been very consistent in impacting positively on the living condition of the people of its host communities.
In his own address at the gathering the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun, applauded the efforts of Seplat in making the event a yearly programme and for impacting positively in so many other ways on the lives of the people in its area of operations.
According to him, “the role of youths in the development of our country is very key. What you’re doing is a step in the right direction.”
Going forward, he stated that “every company should see how they can give back to the society.”
St. Michael College Benin, Edo State, the winners of this year’s edition of the quiz contest, carted home N7m while each of the three students who represented the school at the competition got N100,000.
The first runners up, McNell Academy Secondary School, Sapele, Delta State, was given N3m while its three representatives at the competition got N75,000 each. Second runners up, Gloryland Secondary School, Igarra, Edo State, got N1m for its efforts while each of its three representatives was given N50,000. Third runners up, St. John’s Academy, Oleh, Delta State, was awarded N1m while its three representatives got N50,000 each.
The schools were also awarded trophies and educational materials as acknowledgement of their sterling achievements in the competition.
