Winners of 9th edition of  Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition have emerged. Master Ahia  Fego of Brilliant Child College, Akoka, Lagos State emerged the overall winner among over 900 students across the nation that participated in the 2012 edition of the Competition.

Fego was announced the star winner with a total score of 81% after a keenly contested and closely monitored essay competition for the best 9 candidates out of the 10 shortlisted candidates for the second stage of the essay competition.

The examination was conducted and supervised by Prof. Akachi Ezigbo at TREM Headquarters, Lagos. She is the Chief Examiner, and also a Professor of English, University of Lagos.

The Second best student was Miss Chinaza Okoli of Vivian Fowler School for Girls, with total score of 74% while Master Mark of Lagos State Senior Model College came third with total score of 67%.

The Chief Examiner, a literary guru of repute, Prof. Akachi, also commended the singular effort of Bishop Mike Okonkwo of TREM on this laudable project of empowering the youth of our nation and also rewarding the winners of the competition.

Her words: “The essay competition teaches the youth the value of hard work and inculcates in them the virtues of integrity and discipline. An old proverb says “To work is to pray”: through this competition, TREM stresses that diligence and prayer work hand in hand for success to be achieved.”

She also acknowledged the intelligence of the overall winner, who happens to be the 2011 overall winner, she commended him for his development academically in the last one year.

In her words “Ahia Fego was outstanding in all aspects with hardly any blemish. firm grasp of language and creative handling of the subject matter were far ahead of others. He deserves the victory and all the encouragement he needs to continue to excel”

As a result of emerging the 2012 edition winner,  Fego will be receiving the star prize of a Laptop and N100,000 cash for himself and 3 set of Internet ready Desktop computers with printer for his School.

Miss Chinaza Okoli,  the second best winner will be receiving a cash price of  N75,000.00 for herself and 2 Internet Ready Desktop Computers with printer for her school, while the  third best student will be receiving  N50,000.00 for himself and a  set of computer  for the school. Consolation prices of N20,000 naira each will be given to the remaining six finalist.

The Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition was introduced as part of the activities to mark the Birthday Celebration of Dr. Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of TREM, who turns 67 on Sept 6.  Also the competition was set up to improve the standard of education in the country in addition to exposing the young people’s mind to issues that is of significance  to nation building.

The prizes will be presented to the winners at the 13th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture on  September 5, 2012 at the  Muson Centre Onikan, Lagos. The topic of the Annual Lecture which is “Dependence of Nigerian Economy on Crude Oil, Any Alternatives” will be delivered by Prof Anya O. Anya OFR, and will be chaired by Chief. Philip Asiodu CON.