Our schools better than private schools —Lagos govt • As students win N1.5m PZ Chemistry Challenge

THE Lagos State government has boasted that its schools are far better than private schools in terms of quality of teachers, amenities and service delivery.

Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, made the observation in her reaction to the outstanding performance of two students of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Fatai Tadese and Chibuzor Iwuala, who won the first and third prize respectively in this year’s PZ Cussion Chemistry Challenge.

The PZ Cussion’s Chemistry Challenge, the fifth in the series, is an annual competition designed by PZ Cussion Plc to encourage secondary school students (public and private) to embrace science subjects, especially Chemistry, and make a career of it for the purpose of growing the nation’s economy.

Adekanye, in a press release by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs unit of the ministry, Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, said the performance of the two students had justified what she described as huge investment of Governor Ambode’s administration in the provision of school infrastructure and the development of human resources in government schools.

She promised to present the duo alongside Zhejimatu Anthony of Festac Grammar School, who came fifth, to the deputy governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, for further recognition.

While Tadese and Iwuala went home with N1 million and N500,000 respectively for their efforts and also N750,000 for the first runner-up, Pelumi Adegoke of Newhall International School, their school will also get laboratory equipment and the Chemistry teacher 100,000 for grooming them.

Over 3,000 students competed in this year’s edition while only six, including Oluwapelumi Adegoke of Newhill International; Israel Ikulayo of Brainfield College, and Munachimso Onuoha of Whitessands Academy made it to the finals.