20 private schools participate in global Microsoft competition

NO  fewer than 20 private secondary schools from six states of the federation have participated in this year’s Microsoft Word championship in Nigeria.

Speaking with journalists in Oko, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State after conducting test for some students of Thomas Adewumi International College, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the partnering body, ReadManna, Mrs. Edna Augusto, said that the winners would represent Nigeria in the United States later in the year.

“The championship is organised by Certiport. Certiport is an America-based company and it is a world leader in online certification. They organise the competition every year and over 100 countries compete.

“The world championship is open to students aged 13 to 22. Other programmes the schools competed in include Excel and PowerPoint categories. ReadManna is in partnership with Microsoft.

“Last year, 330 students competed, but this year, we have 900. Out of these, we shortlisted 161 for another round of competition, because we want to win. This year, 20 private schools in Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Rivers Kwara State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are participating.

“We are competing in three programmes: Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

We are competing in two versions of 2013 and 2016, and we are taking the best three scores to the world championship. They are the ones that will represent Nigeria,” she said.

Mrs Augusto lamented that many unemployed graduates in Nigeria remained jobless because they could not use the computer.

On the non-participation of public schools, Mrs. Augusto said that it “has been very difficult working the public schools because with public schools, you must have the authorities endorsing the competition and holding the schools accountable.