By Briga Media
Leveraging on education as a tool to promote peaceful coexistence among diverse ethnic groups, the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has officially used the 2025 edition of the Comrade Mulade Sheriff Inter-Local Government Quiz and Essay Competition to link-up students in the riverine communities to their counterparts in the oil city of Warri, Delta State.
The initiative, spearheaded by Chief Comrade Sheriff Mulade PhD, aims to empower rural and riverine secondary school students through intellectual engagement, creative expression and inter-ethnic collaboration, with rewards of N200,000k for the 1st Prize, N150,000k and N100,000k for 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively.
The competition is rooted in the belief that education is the cornerstone of national development and social harmony.
Chief Comrade Sheriff Mulade, the National Coordinator and CEO of CEPEJ, emphasized the importance of education in his opening remarks.
He said, “Education is not just a tool for personal advancement; it is the bedrock of societal growth and a pathway to peaceful coexistence among our diverse communities.
“By targeting rural and riverine areas, the competition seeks to bridge educational disparities and provide equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their geographical location.
“The Center uses this medium to appeal to and charge the Delta State Government to pay more attention to the State’s educational sector especially riverine/rural schools, while multinational oil companies operating within the area should channel more of their Corporate Social Responsibility functions to educational development that will help to eradicate illiteracy and reduce civil unrest in their operational areas in line with Goal 4 of the SDGs.
“The importance of Education in the advancement of a nation cannot be over emphasized. Education is the back bone and the live wire of any economy. Education is the bedrock of civilization. “If you show me any nation that is backward in development, I will show you a nation that has less interest in quality educational advancement of the people and educational fraud and scam becomes the order of the day,” he added.
The 18 schools currently participating in the competition are: Esenaebe College, Bomadi LGA, Sokebolou Secondary School, Burutu LGA, Emore Grammar School, Oleh, Isoko South LGA, Akiewhe Secondary School, Akiewhe, Isoko North LGA, Isaba Grammar School Isaba, Warri South-West LGA, Obodo Secondary School, Obodo, Warri South LGA, Omateye College, Ajagbodudu, Warri North LGA, Agoloma Secondary School, Agoloma,, Patani LGA.
Others are Ogidigben Grammar School, Ogidigben, Warri South-West LGA, Oloduwa Secondary School, Opuama, Warri North LGA, Aviara Secondary School, Aviara, Isoko South LGA, Oketa Model Grammar School, Ofagbe, Isoko North LGA, Aven Secondary School, Aven, Patani LGA, Ogo-Eze Secondary Commercial School, Ogo-Eze Bomadi LGA, Ubeji Secondary School, Ubeji, Warri South LGA and Tuomo Grammar School, Tuomo, Burutu LGA.
Source: Focal Reporters
