By Ochuko Akuopha

ASABA – GABRIEL Mbadiwe Mabatah Movement, GMM, has concluded it’s maiden quiz competition with Owa Model Secondary School, Boji-Boji Owa, emerging as first place winner.

The school emerged winner during the grand finale of the contest organised for public secondary schools across Ika South and Ika North East local government areas receiving the prize money of N500, 000.

The contest saw Ogbemudein Mixed Secondary School, Agbor and Igumbor-Otiku Secondary School, Agbor, emerging second and third placed schools and getting N300, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.

Speaking at Agbor during the grand finale of the competition held in collaboration with the Mabatah Gabriel Francesca Foundation, the Coordinator, Mr. Isaac Iyadi explained that 21 schools were invited from Ika North East and 22 from Ika South to participate in the preliminary stage of the competition.

He said six schools – three from each of the local government areas – qualified for the grand finale of the competition which he noted was borne out of the desire of the organiser, Dr. Gabriel Mabatah to revive the reading culture among youths.

Iyadi said Mabatah, a medical doctor, pharmacist, entrepreneur and philanthropist, “has passion for education. He believes that the simplest way to develop the mindset of the youths is to develop their mindset and to do that is through education.

“He saw that in Nigeria today, the reading culture is almost going into extinction; the children hardly reads and we say that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow.

“So, what he has done is to bring back the culture of reading because competition brings back the best in any human being. That is why he organised this competition so that the students will have something that will motivate them.”

Also speaking, a Lagos based Chartered Accountant, Chief Austin Ojei expressed satisfaction with what he described as “the sharp attributes” of some of the students.

He commended Mabatah for the initiative to organise the competition, saying that “the good thing is that it is taking place at home.”

Speaking with newsmen after the contest, Miracle Ifem of Owa Model Secondary School thanked the organisers for the initiative and their various philanthropic gestures in the society.

“I feel great and to God be the glory” she said, saying that the victory would serve as motivation to keep reading hard.”