The Edo State Government has launched the maiden edition of the Sen. Monday Okpebholo Education Talent Hunt and inaugurated a committee to oversee its implementation, in a move aimed at discovering and promoting academic talents among secondary school students across the state.
The flag-off ceremony and inauguration of the implementation committee were held at the conference hall of the Edo State Senior Secondary Education Board in Benin City.
Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Rolland Otaru, commended the initiative and urged members of the committee to discharge their responsibilities with honesty, fairness, and transparency.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, praised the chairman of the board for assembling experienced educationists to serve on the committee. He encouraged the members to work with integrity and ensure that students from rural communities benefit from the programme.
Afegbua further urged students to remain focused on their goals, stressing that their backgrounds should not limit their ambitions. He also advised them to respect their teachers and see their schools as platforms for achieving their dreams.
In his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Edith Ebomwonyi, described the initiative as a strategic platform designed to uncover and nurture the unique talents of students.
According to Iyamu, students possess abilities that extend beyond classroom learning and such talents deserve recognition and encouragement. He noted that teachers and parents play a vital role in nurturing the identified talents to help students reach their full potential.
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Senior Secondary Education Board, Rita Otibhor Erewele, explained that the programme aims to identify and reward academic excellence, encourage healthy competition among students, and provide opportunities for outstanding learners to pursue higher education.
She stated that the initiative would adopt a credible and transparent selection process to identify the best Senior Secondary School (SS3) students in Science, Social Sciences, and Arts from the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
Erewele added that winners of the competition would receive fully funded scholarships to pursue tertiary education in state-owned institutions.
She disclosed that the programme is funded by the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, and is designed to promote a reading culture, improve academic performance, and encourage greater dedication among students in secondary schools.
According to her, the initiative will contribute to building a stronger education system in Edo and position the state among the leading performers in academic excellence across Nigeria.
Following her remarks, Erewele inaugurated the committee responsible for implementing the programme.
Members of the committee include Umumetu Momoh as chairman, Dan Ehiremwen Enowoghomwenma as vice chairman, and Mabel Fumilayo Oboigba as secretary. Other members are John Osi Akhigbe, Abdulkadiri Ikogbode, Obarisiagbon Ikponmwosa Michael, and Idumwonyi Osamede.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Momoh expressed appreciation to the board chairman for the confidence reposed in the team and assured that members would carry out their responsibilities diligently in line with the SHINE Agenda of the state government.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Musa Bako.
The event was attended by several stakeholders in the education sector, including Chairman of the Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Onomen Briggs; Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Sonia Ebanehita; and the Provost of the College of Education Igueben, Victoria Okojie, among other government officials and stakeholders in the state’s education sector.
