No fewer than 200 students participated in maiden edition of the essay competition organised by the WorldHero LLC for Secondary schools students in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo state.
The foundation also presented cash prizes and scholarship awards to over 100 indigent students from public schools while 14 finalists of the essay competition received various awards and prizes.
Speaking during the events at St. Patrick’s primary school, Ondo, the founder of the WorldHero LLC, Akinbinu Akintomide, said the competition was put together in support of education in the state, while he encouraged the students to continue to improve their reading and writing skills, as there is are huge prospects in literature.
He said the gesture was prompted by the fact that education was the bedrock of any nation, and urged other well meaning Nigerians to also assist in the development of education
He said the essay competition is aimed at promoting the reading culture and encourage healthy and intellectual competition among secondary school students across the state.
According to him, the platform is to develop intellectual and writing abilities and this competition is part of our foundation’s community service endeavours.
“This essay competition was put together to stimulate and challenge the youths in creating and harnessing opportunities in their local environment and we are using other programmes in enhancing and develop education in Ondo.
He however, advised the pupils to use the opportunity to develop themselves and embrace the reading culture while he called on parents and guardians to monitor and encourage their wards.
He appealed to philanthropists and the spirited individuals to assist in the effective funding of education in the state in order to secure the future of the country and called on other well meaning and kind-hearted people from the state to support government in funding education.
“We believe that reading is the core aspect of education. If you cannot read, it is unlikely that you can obtain education. At the foundation level, what you can give to a child is the ability to read and encourage that child to continue on that path.This is the reason we are laying strong emphasis on inculcating reading culture from the cradle”
He congratulated the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme and also appreciated the WorldHero think-tank for a wonderful job, weldone.
The Local Government Education Secretary; Hon. Bada Maruf, hailed the WorldHero LLC foundation for the initiative and charged the pupils to always remain focused in their studies.
He charged the students to shun disruptive behaviours and delinquent tendencies that could allow them to derail from attaining their God given potentials and congratulated the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme and also appreciated the WorldHero think-tank for a wonderful job, weldone.
One of the parents of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Racheal Jameson, commended the foundation for supporting children’s access to life-changing education and support them towards achieving quality education.
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