A new approach to teaching that helps to develop each kind of child with separate talents has been unveiled in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The new approach is called ‘Multiple Intelligences,’ which is said to help teachers discover talent of every talent and develop each child.

Now, in a bid to celebrate ‘Multiple Intelligences’, Ijeawele Chimamaka Ogbonna of Bookchef Academy in partnership with Worital Global, a book publishing firm in Lagos, organized the maiden edition of the ‘Bookchef Ink Competition’ for students in Rivers State.

The event held in Port Harcourt on July 29, 2023, brought together seasoned speakers, judges, teachers, school owners, parents and students from different schools.

According to the convener of the event, Ijeawele Chimamaka Ogbonna, “This is the first ever of this kind of competition. We are celebrating Multiple Intelligences, which is a theory that posits that we should learn to support, motivate, and inspire children across different skills and talents.

“We should not always focus on just academic excellence alone. This event showcases different talents and skills in children, and shows parents, school owners and guardians that this is the new way of doing things.

“A lot has changed over the years with a very fast-paced 21st Century, so we want them to learn to embrace change and know that with every skill acquired, there is a future.”

Ogbonna who was delighted about the event disclosed that “It has been an intensive three months back-to-back visit to schools. It did not just happen overnight. We went to schools in Rivers State, booked appointments and visited the schools during their assembly, if the school consents to the programme.”

She noted that the competition is student-based and did not follow the usual approach of shortlisting, as all students were given a levelled playing ground and guided on which category to compete in based on their talents.

She hinted that this approach was borne out of her desire to forestall the usual practice of schools nominating just their brightest students to participate in competitions.

According to her, “I was once a child too and never got the chance to really show my talents because I was not the brightest of all, when it comes to competitions. So every time, I had to stay back and others who were shortlisted went for these competitions.

“This is my story. This is me saying that every child should be given a chance to shine. So we made the competition open to all children in schools. Each school was given a maximum of 20 students to nominate for the different categories of the competition.”

The Junior Category Narrative Letter Writing had Hafiza Tenimu emerge as the winner, while Anyachukwu Chiechatem and Olivia Chinedu Chidera won the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

For the Senior Category Narrative Letter Writing, Izuchukwu Chiemerie emerged winner, while Halliday Noble and Anya-Chukwu Chichetaram won the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

The Oral Literature Review Category (Speaking contest), had Chimamanda I’ve emerge as the winner, followed by Odochi Amaka and Daniel Peter who won the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

The Sportsman Category which had the students compete in chess, monopoly and scrabble games had Kiara Okoro, Faith Ikechukwu and Ezeanyim Chukwuemeka emerge as winners respectively.

Meanwhile, the keynote speaker, Uloma Ikpendu when speaking on Multiple Intelligences (MI) said “it is a theory proposed by Howard Gardner, which suggests that intelligence is not a single fixed entity, but rather a diverse set of abilities.”

Ikpendu who is the Head of Learning and Development at International School of Education gave reasons why MI is an important structure for teaching and learning. She further enumerated the 10 steps that can help in promoting MI in the classroom.

Speaking also at the event, Suanu Moni, a business coach encouraged students to utilize their skills to make money.

In the same vein, the Founder of Grace Consultant, Dr Festus Odigie Erewele while speaking on ‘Rushed Education’, stated that rushed education “is the process of intentionally or unintentionally skipping some stages in the development of education.”

He talked about the defects of rushed education, and stressed that being academically brilliant is different from being academically intelligent. While the former has to do with having information, the latter deals with knowing why you have the information and using it.

Other seasoned speakers at the event were Siramene Teeh, Olumati Isaiah, Dr Ella Chioma Ezeadilieje, Emeka Nobis and Nkechi Amadi.

The lead judge, Dr Maxi Eze, a Lecturer and British Council Examiner admonished parents and students to teach children to speak naturally and not mechanically or robotly, having observed the way participants at the competition spoke.

“I know it boils down to inviting people to come and teach our children diction, and I usually quarrel with people that teach students diction. I tell them to teach students to speak as individuals. They should not throw away their individuality.”

He therefore advised students to retain their individuality and authenticity, as that is how credibility comes, which means believability.

“If you foolishly imitate somebody’s speech mannerism, you will be an imitation, and that person is the original. If you foolishly copy, you will be a photocopy, and that person the original. So why be a photocopy, when you can be an original”, he questioned.

Other judges of the competition were Vera Genesis, Chidinma Akpamgbo, Vivian Chidinma Ude, Juliet Chukwu, Chioma Olisa, Feji Khai, and Charis Precious Abisam.

The event also had the ‘Exceptional Teachers Award’, ballet, cultural and hip-hop dance performances.