Andy Esiet, Calabar
Engr. Ndifon Agbiji, FNSE, FNICE, FNIWE, FNIEE.
An engineering expert has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River state to invest in the learning and practice of Science, Technology and Engineering to engender a secured future for Nigeria.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the “Engr. Ndifon Agbiji Science Technology and Engineering Foundation(A-STEF): The Geniuses of Mathematics Quiz Competition” on June 10, founder of the programme, Mr. Ndifon Agbiji said, “Nigeria cannot continue on importation of goods and services at the detriment of our economy” hence the urgent need to embrace science and engineering.
In view of this, Agbiji who is a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE), said the time has come for the government “to partner with us at A-STEF to build capacity of our citizens and invest in the learning and practice of Science, Technology and Engineering to engender a secured future for Cross River State and Nigeria as we cannot continue on importation of goods and services at the detriment of our economy.
“We shall work with all of you and indeed the government of the day to refocus our economy and indeed raise the trajectory of our desired destination. Our preferred destination of a production economy can only be possible with a solid foundation of Science Technology and Engineering.
“The future generations can only be secured if we invest adequately in the study and learning of science, technology and engineering: this is the only guarantee for food security, employment generation and improved income for sustainable livelihood for us today and the coming generations”.
He said, “We are here today to stimulate the thinking and expand the capabilities of our children with the A-STEF Geniuses of Mathematics quiz competition. This we believe is a sure corridor to building a viable Society and a future generation founded on knowledge and skill. It is therefore our conviction and unwavering believe that if we consistently refocus our energy to building capacity of our future generation and current industry practitioners and sufficiently reward hard work rather than celebrating indolence, mediocrity and political rascality, we are then set for a glorious future of our society.
“As a foundation, we are poised to partner with all concerned including government MDAs and development partners to reinvent the wheel with a clear focus of turning the tides of the ills to setting our society on the path of sustained growth and development by building a critical mass on the fulcrum of Science Technology and Engineering”.
Three winners of first, second and third emerged in each of the three categories and the first prize winners in the different categories went home with N20,000 each, a gold medal and certificates. The Second Runners up got, N10.000 each and certificates while the third prize runners up went home with N5,000 and Certificates .
Over 30 schools took part in the quiz competition and a breakdown of the winners in the different categories showed that Bridge-End International/Bridge-End High Schools, Calabar emerged overall best.
Details:
Primary category:
1st position , Gold Medal
AGBOR ACHU ( Bridge End International school,Calabar.)
2nd position, Silver Medal
EMMANUEL JOSEPH (Bridge end international school, Calabar.)
3rd position ,Bronze Modal
ELISHA ASHI UGAR (Bridge End International school.Calabar.)
Junior Secondary Category:
1st Position, Gold. Medal
OFRE PRINCE (Bridge End High school)
2nd Position, Silver Medal
OBIANUJU LORAYNE IBEKIE (Bridge End High School, Calabar)
3rd Position, Bronze Medal
3DERRICK BASSEY AKWA, ( Bridge End High School.Calabar)
Senior Secondary Category:
1st Position , Gold Medal
STANLEY JAMES- DIWA ENYIA, ( Sure foot International School)
2nd Position, Silver Medal
LESODA EJA, (Bridge-End High School)
3rd Position, Bronze Medal
UDOAKANG EDIDIONG SAMUEL, (Bridge End High School
