The wife of the state governor, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Eno has commended the Transition Committee Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Hon Mercy Bassey for sustaining the Hon. (Lady) Mercy Bassey’s Annual Science Quiz/Debate Competition for four years while ensuring that the bar remains high.

The governor’s wife, who gave the commendation in her goodwill message at the grand finale of the competition, Thursday, July 11, noted that Hon Bassey’s commitment to the development of education in the local government was in line with the policy drive of the governor particularly on the advancement of education in the state.

Represented by the Coordinator, Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), Pastor Anne Abraham, the First Lady stated that education was a priority to the state government because of its potential to shape the future, adding that initiatives like the annual competition among schools in the rural communities will help bridge the gap in education.

“This competition marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards achieving intellectual growth, critical thinking and the spirit of healthy competition among our young minds. The intelligence and brilliance displayed by all participants throughout this competition have been truly inspiring.

“Each of you have demonstrated not only a deep understanding of various subjects but also the invaluable skills of articulation, reading and teamwork. Competition like this are more than just mere contests. They are platforms that empower our youths to voice their thoughts, challenges, conventional knowledge and propose innovative solutions to the pressing issues of our time.

“These events help to groom and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow, individuals who could shape the future with knowledge, empathy and commitment to excellence”, she said.

Commending the organisers and educators for their tireless efforts to ensuring that the competition was well-planned and delivered excellently, Mrs Eno said, “preparing these brilliant minds for a task like this is very commendable because you have provided them with the tools to succeed and the confidence to shine”.

She encouraged the participants who did not win to cheer up and feel proud about themselves for daring to stand out and not allow the result of the competition to become a setback in their pursuit of academic excellence or any other noble goal in life, adding that the skills and experiences that they have gained throughout the competition are invaluable and will be very useful to them in their future endeavours.

Also speaking, the Chairman, State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Hon. Ekaette Ebong Okon noted that she was very impressed with the quality of the competition because it reflected the quality education that the state is known for, adding that such intellectual exercises go a long way to complement the efforts of the government.

“I feel highly elated about what I have seen here today. This is a prove that education is a powerful tool to change a society. Imagine these little children who are already so confident in speaking publicly and can even do research on topics to enable them back up their points. I understand that this is fourth edition of this competition so I want to specially commend the Chairman of Mkpat Enin for her zeal in promoting quality education”, she said.

She noted that the outcome of education depends on the quality of education that the children receive, adding that if the goal is to make the society better and also shape the future, then the children must be given the best learning opportunities and necessary support.