Mr Goodness Honour, an SS3 student of Demonstration Standard College Onikoko, Okene, has emerged the Best Scientist in Kogi in the “21 Kogi Young Scientists Governor’s Award (KYSGA-21) 2018 competition.”

KYSGA-21 is a competition of science students in both private and public secondary schools across the 21 local government areas of Kogi, aimed at encouraging and developing youths’ interest in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

Organised by Kogi Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the competition
was in collaboration with Kogi Wide Academic Excellence Competition (K-WAEC) to mark the World Science Day 2018.

World Science Day is celebrated annually on Nov. 10 to bring to the fore, the giant strides in the world of science toward developing the world.

Presenting the award to the overall winner in Lokoja, the Education Commissioner, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, said that the competition was aimed at encouraging youths to study science.

Osikoya said Honour would represent the state at the “774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (YONSPA) 2018” slated for Nov. 22, 2018 at the national level.

The commissioner added that “I am excited that we were able to create a level playing field in the competition and a public school produced the winner.

“This has dispelled every wrong notion about the standards of public schools.

“We were able to make innovations and used scarce resources to get everybody work together as a team; and we have achieved a lot.

“I am happy that we are able to demonstrate to everybody today that there is still faith in government.”

Mr Salihu Abubakar from Centre for Atmospheric Research, National Space Research Development Agency, commended Kogi Government for the laudable initiative, noting that science and technology remained the backbone of any nation.

Abubarkar, who is the acting Head of Engineering Department of the centre, said that the agency was ready to partner with the government for technological development in the state.

The winner, Honour, thanked the state governor and the commissioner for the gesture, and for giving students the opportunity to display their intellectual ability through the competition.

He said: “I just believe it is the help of the Almighty God, coupled with hard work. I am grateful to God for making me the winner.

“I promise to make Kogi proud at the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (YONSPA) 2018.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogbonna John from Dynamic College, Ankpa, and Hassan Shedrach from Saint Kizito Seminary, Idah, came in second and third place.

The winners all received plaques and complete sets of teaching and learning materials.

The three finalists each received a HP laptop computer with teaching aides software fully installed. (NAN)