Gov Emmanuel Udom awards scholarship to A/Ibom best student in 2016 WASSCE

Master Ukeme Ikot in the middle  with his parents Mr and Mrs Etim Ikot, displaying a cheque of N400, 000  from Nigerian Christian Institute

By Kaz Ib

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has approved the award of tertiary education scholarship to Master Ukeme Ikot, who emerged as the best candidate from Akwa Ibom in the May/June 2016 West  African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Ukeme, 17, from Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state was a former student of Nigerian Christian Institute, NCI.

He scored eight A1s and one B2 in the May/June 2016 WASSCE to emerge the best from Akwa Ibom state.

He is currently reading Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU).

Speaking during a reception in honour of Ukeme yesterday at the NCI, Uyo, the state capital, the governor who reiterated the commitment of his administration towards improving the standard of education in the State, said the state government would give scholarship to Ukeme to enable him complete his tertiary education at Akwa Ibom State University.

The governor, who was represented by his Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties, Mr. Akan Okon, said Ukeme’s result would serve as a platform that would motivate other students excel in their academic endeavours.

The governor also donated 10 computer systems to NCI while encouraging other students to emulate Ukeme’s WASSCE result and make the state proud.

He noted that his administration has not only continued with, but has improved upon the Free and Compulsory Education Policy and urged parents to take full advantage of the programme which he said is yielding results.

Emmanuel lauded young Ukeme for making the State, institution and family proud by exhibiting the Dakkada spirit and advised him not to relent efforts but remain studious, so as to attain a bright future.

While pledging his resolve to sponsoring Ukeme to enable him further his career, the Governor charged other students in the State to take a cue from him, as he has made a good mark for himself.

He said: “I was so excited when I got into this compound today. What I have seen here has shown significant growth and improvement. From now on, you are under Akwa Ibom State Government scholarship.

“I am made to understand you are a student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Akwa Ibom State University.”

Aside from the governor, Okon also made a donation of N250, 000 to NCI and also pledged to assist the school in buying some textbooks that would be useful to the students.

He said: “On my won, I will give NCI the sum of N250, 000 and I will also assist the school in buying some textbooks that are needed by the students.”

Also a member representing Itu State Constituency, Idongesit Ituen, gave a cheque of N150, 000 to Ukeme to support him in his University education and also donated N150, 000 to NCI.

Ituen, who was an alumna of NCI, urged other students to emulate Ukeme so that they can come out in flying colours in their examinations.

The President of NCI, Obong Okon Ukpong also presented a cheque of N400, 000 to Ukeme on behalf of NCI to aid him in his University education.

Ukong said: “We are celebrating Ukeme because somebody has decided to made sacrifice.”

The School Principal, Ms. Mfon Nze, said NCI decided to organize reception for Ukeme for his outstanding result, saying failure to do so would not only be ingratitude but would send wrong message to the rest of the students of NCI and students in other schools who had noted his outstanding result that there was no need to strive for academic excellence since after the result, nothing tangle would come of the efforts.

Her words: “It is worthy of note that while Ukeme was excellent in Introductory Techonology in JS3, he was no genius. I recall that some of his teachers really didn’t recall him as he was not outstandingly brilliant.

“But when set Ukeme apart was that he was constantly striving to be better. By the end of SS1, Ukeme had become the best student in his class. Most good students usually rest on their laurels once they achieve this feat but Ukeme did not.”