By Ebele Orakpo

Last Thursday, Corona School, Ikoyi, Lagos emerged the overall best at the 9th Corona Inter-School Quiz Competition, held at its Victoria Island School premises after a keen contest involving five primary arms, comprising four representatives of Corona Schools.

The results of the competition, which was in four categories viz – English, Mathematics, Science, General Knowledge, and Mind Gym – saw Corona School, Victoria Island clinching the second position while Corona  School, Apapa came third.

In the English category, Ikoyi and Victoria Island were tied for first position; in Mathematics, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Apapa, and Gbagada shared first position; in Science, Apapa came first; in General Knowledge, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Gbagada shared the spoils; while in Mind Gym, Ikoyi claimed top spot.

The first Corona School, Ikoyi Day Nursery  established in March 1955, has grown to include seven more institutions; including Corona College of Education which was established with the aim  of providing high quality continuous professional development for teachers.

Basking in the euphoria of a successful outing, Head Boy of Corona Ikoyi, who was also part of the winning quiz team, Adejare Adesoko said that the result was due to practice, belief and effort, adding that Corona prepares one for the future. He was optimistic that those who pass through that citadel of learning will one day become future ambassadors of the country.

Sharing the ingredients of their school’s success, a Mathematics teacher in the Ikoyi School, Victor Omidele, said “It started with practising with the children, using several questions within the curriculum and outside; went as far as going online to get likely questions, and to God be the glory, today we came out tops.”

Corroborating Omidele, the school’s science teacher, Oladipupo Abdullahi, shared similar sentiments. “It’s been very taxing. We had to put the children through a lot of work. We had to go even a bit above their level, because we had to prepare for the unknown, as we didn’t know the kind of questions that would be coming up.”

Lauding the quiz initiative which she believes is an avenue for the children to learn new things beyond the classroom, one of the parents, Mrs. Ehi-kathy Okechukwu commended the Corona Schools Trust Council, noting that the   exposure was not only a very valuable experience for the students; even as a parent, she learnt a lot from the questions that were asked.

Commenting on this year’s competition, the sponsor and member of the Corona Schools’ Trust Council, Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie said the quiz competition was set up nine years ago to broaden the scope of student knowledge.

”Corona has always maintained a reputation for academic excellence. But what we were lacking at the time was a sense of the world around us. We didn’t have much general knowledge; that was why we started this quiz – to help our students appreciate the importance of knowing what is going on outside of their particular bubble,” she said.

She praised the evolving format of the quiz and also implored the students to take advantage of knowledge and academic excellence being inculcated in them as they prepare to be ambassadors of the school.

She charged them to strive to give back to Corona when they finally embrace the larger society.

“One thing I would also like to see from all of you in the future is you coming back and contributing to the school, whether it is by way of giving time via mentoring, or by sharing your talents.”

Some of the highlights of the occasion were choral performances which was won by Corona Ikoyi.

There were also impromptu speeches from students of Corona Secondary School, Agbara, who represented the school’s four houses.

Crane, King Fisher, Heron and Weaver. Heron House won that category. A sole poetry was also performed by Shalom Emeka, a Corona Secondary School student. The five hour event was rounded up with prizes presentation for the best students in Corona’s annual second term general examinations.

Present at the quiz competition was the CEO, Corona School’s Trust Council, Adedoyin Adesina and the school’s Director of Education, Amelia Dafeta.