Abuja — Enugu and Delta States have won the secondary and primary school categories of the 15th edition of the NNPC/Mobil/Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) National Science Projects and Quiz competitions, held in Makurdi weekend.

In the finals of the Primary Science Quiz, held at the College of Medical Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi; Delta State, represented by Mary Takale and Chukwunweolu Osakwe , pupils of Delta Steel Company Model Primary Schoool II, Oruwhorun, Delta State, came first with 104.50 points, followed by Ondo, Abia and Rivers with 100.50, 93.50 and 91.75, respectively.

Enugu State, represented by Raphael Chijioke Alimba and Justice Ebere Ogbonna, students of Command Day Secondary School, Enugu also came first in the secondary school category with 124.75 points, beating Lagos (122.00), Plateau (119.75) and Delta (118.00) states.

Pupils and students from across the country converged on the Benue State capital for the week-long event that included written examinations in Life, Vocational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences for secondary schools; Basic Sciences and Basic Mathematics for primary schools, Teacher's Project, Free Choice, Primary Project and National Theme Project. The National Theme for this year's project was 'Food Preservation Device'.

Announcing the prizes, Chairman of the Quiz Bureau, Prof. Peter Okebukola said Mobil provided a total of sum of N1, 575, 000.00 in addition to trophies and two lap tops, one for the winner of the students' written quiz; and the other for the winner of the Teacher's Project.

First, Second and Third positions in the Primary Science Quiz competition attracted N100, 000, N50, 000 and N50, 000 respectively. The Secondary School category attracted N200, 000, N100, 000 and N100, 000 in the same order, all shared by the two contestants, who represented their states/schools.

Takale won the Primary Schools Written Quiz, going home with another N50, 000. Just as her counterpart in the secondary school category of the Written Quiz, Dare Timilehin from Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo, went home with N100, 000 and a lap top. Timilehin also came first in Mathematical Sciences and second in both Life and Physical Sciences.

St. Louis Girls' Secondary School, Akure came first in the Secondary Schools' National Theme Project winning N150, 000. Michael Omologun Memorial Secondary School (MOMSS), Lokoja and Government Secondary School II, New Karu, Nasarawa State came second and third, winning N50, 000 each.

In the Primary School category, Science Primary School, Bwari, FCT came first, followed by AUD Primary School, Ososami, Ibadan and CA Primary School, Benin, winning N100, 000, N50, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.

A Chemistry Teacher from Air-force Comprehensive School, Ibadan, Mr. Oludare M. Kaka won the Teacher's Project Prize of N200, 000 cash and a lap top worth N100, 000 with his 'Game Assisted Instructional Method' that was inspired by science students' poor reading habit. The game teaches the concept of chemical formulae which has been identified to be difficult and abstract to students.

Mr. James Otu, who teaches Science at the University Preparatory Secondary School, Benin, Edo State, got N100, 000 for coming second with his 'Electrostatic Precipitator', a device for controlling smoke pollution. He said he was inspired by the environmental issues in the country, especially the Niger Delta area. With financial and moral support, Otu said his research can serve the country and beyond.

Physics Teachers at Government Girls' Senior Secondary School, Dogon-Bauchi, Zaria, Mrs. Alice Garba came third and also got N100, 000. While it is easy to show the expansion of solid and liquid, that of gas is not so easy. She therefore designed an activity for the students to do in groups, which she tagged, 'Investigating the Expansion and Contraction of Gases'.

At the end of the competition in Makurdi, General Manager, Deepwater Venture Projects, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mrs. Tolulope Ewherido, remarked that, "Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), operator of the NNPC/MPN joint venture, actively supports STAN in fulfillment of its primary objective of fostering co-operation among science teachers in Nigeria with a view to raising the standard of science education in the country."

Her company's corporate citizenship programmes, she said, place a high premium on education, particularly in the field of science and technology. "Our contributions to education range from provision of national post-graduate and undergraduate scholarships to students in Nigerian universities, to construction of classroom blocks, laboratories, and supply of science equipment."

Receiving the award winners at a ceremony in Abuja Monday, Executive Director, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mrs. Gloria Essien-Danner said "The NNPC/MPN Joint Venture has consistently sponsored this competition for the last 15 years. This consistency speaks volumes of our passion for the development of science education in Nigeria, because of its critical role as the veritable foundation for technological breakthrough and advancement.

"Mobil Producing Nigeria, through sponsorship of this competition, demonstrates its commitment as a responsible and responsive corporate citizen of Nigeria. We have a corporate citizenship philosophy that makes us take more than a passing interest in developing the communities in which we operate.

She commended STAN "for its untiring efforts at improving the standard of science education in the country and its resolve to bring out something good from these children", adding, "We remain committed to the partnership with STAN - a partnership dedicated to attracting students to science-related fields and to ensuring that anyone who wishes to become an engineer, mathematician, or scientist will not be denied the opportunity.

She then went on to present the trophies to the award winners. Mary Takale was however not available at the reception because she went to represent Delta State at the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN) competition, holding in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

A Deputy Director Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Sylvanus Ifedibu, who represented the Minister thanked Mobil for its contribution towards encouraging science education.

STAN President, Dr. Prince commended the efforts of Mobil for supporting the association through the years. Thanked UNESCO and World Bank for STEP-B for assistance saying the aim of the competition is to catch them young and we can never do this without teachers,

UNESCO National Planning Officer (Science) Dr. Osu Out said "what makes the difference between the developed and developing countries is investment into the application of science and technology. I am happy that Mobil and STAN are collaborating to do this in Nigeria." He disclosed that UNESCO and World Bank STEP-B were working on a project to encourage more girls to study science.

World Bank's Senior Education Specialist, Dr. Tunde Adekola said his presence demonstrated the bank's support of the efforts of STAN and Mobil to improve science education, saying it is through science and technology that we can have non-oil growth of the economy. This explains why the bank, through its STEP-B project, is supporting institutions to produce quality science graduates that will meet the demands of the labour market.

Responding, Kaka expressed "profound gratitude" to the organisers of the competition. Eleven-year-old Osakwe, after observing protocols, said: "I am very pleased to be here. Thank you for sponsoring the competition. I will like to request that the winners be sponsored for international competitions in order for their talents to be recognised at the global level. I have a vision to make access to islands easier and making a car that will use solar energy."