By Emmanuel Elebeke

Winners have emerged in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), broadband essay competition in its 2015 edition.

The competition entitled: Broadband: A catalyst to National Development, saw two medical students of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, UNEC winning the first and third positions respectively in the contest.

The winner emerged from a pool of 639 entries from both public and private Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education across the country.

The first prize winner, a five hundred level medical student of UNEC, Odonoekuma Onyebuchi, received a cash of N500, 000, a lap top, and a printer. The first runners-up, a student of History and International Relations in University of Ilorin, Kareem Ibraheem got N300,000, a lap top, while the second runners up, another medical student of UNEC, Asogwa Peter received a cash of N200,000 and lap top. About seven other winners also received N50, 000 consolation prize each.

In his address, the Director Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the Commission organised the competition in order to increase awareness on the subject matter and to engage and enhance research skills, encourage academic competition and excellence and also build the capacity of students in the higher institutions across the country.

On the choice of Broadband as the topic for the 2015 edition, Ojobo said, ‘‘despite its worldwide growth and promotion by policy makers, network operators, content providers and other stakeholders, broadband does not have a single definition”.

The essay competition was initiated in 2014 by the NCC to deepen awareness and knowledge of telecommunications stakeholders in the country.