54 Edo Students from Public Senior Secondary School across the three Senatorial Districts of the State will benefit from a fully funded Tertiary education through the Senator Monday Okpebhole Education talent hunt competition.
The talent hunt competition which is in season one will be organized by the Edo State Senior Secondary Education Board (SSEB) and the Tertiary education of the winners will be fully funded by the Edo State government.
The 54 winners will emerge through a scholarship examination monitored by the newly inaugurated Senator Monday Okpebhole Education Talent Hunt Committee led by the Chairman, Dr. (Mrs) Umumetu Momoh.
The talent hunt is specifically for brilliant SS3 students from Edo State Public Senior Secondary School across the 18 local government areas of the State as the seven man committee will carefully select winners through a scholarship examination which will be sat for by 162 brilliant Edo students which will be further reduced to 54.
Inaugurating the Education Talent Hunt Committee, the Executive Chairman Edo State Senior Secondary Education Board (SSEB) Rita Otibho Erewele PhD. said the dream of every Edo child is to enjoy a fully funded education which has now been made possible because of the governor’s beliefs and interest in education.
Erewele said the selection processes will be in two stages which is the scholarship and the qualifying stages. She noted that the scholarship stage will produce 162 brilliant students.
“A breakdown shows each local government to produce nine students. Best three in science, social science and arts. It will be further reduced at stage two which is the qualifying stage to 54 students, three per Local Government. These students will be the best in science, social science and arts.
“These 54 students will emerge winners and will benefit From the fully funded Tertiary education in the State owned Tertiary Institutions, sponsored by the governor of Edo State, senator Monday Okpebhole”.
She noted that the successful Edo students will attend Tertiary Institutions in the State fully funded by the Edo State government. “The Institutions include Ambrose Ali University (AAU) Ekpoma, Edo State University Iyamo, Edo State Polytechnic Usen, and College of Education Igueben, Afuze and Abudu”.
“This is the flag off and inauguration of the first talent education hunt competition in Edo State, this is season one. Because of the interest of the governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebhole in the education sector, he has sponsored and supported this beautiful initiative of the SSEB to ensure we take the best talent in science, social science and arts in every Local Government Areas after seating for a scholarship examination.
“The Edo State government will sponsor successful students who thrive at the scholarship exam and fund their education.
This noble initiative is in its season one and plans have been concluded to ensure the programme continues to motivate students to study through enhancing their study habits.
The SSEB Chairman noted that academic research has shown that, there is a high correlation between motivation and academic performance of students and based on this the government came out with a motivating factor which is this talent hunt and scholarship to enable Edo students study hard and ensure the State comes out first in academic performance across the country.
She said the talent hunt is an ongoing process across public schools in the State and the numbers will keep increasing as students from special need schools will also be captured giving every Edo child the opportunity for a fully funded Tertiary education.
The commissioner for education Paddy Iyamu said the event is a celebration of creativity, confidence of the ability of Edo children.
The commissioner represented by the Permanent secretary (PS) Edith Ebonwonyi said the talent hunt is timely and apt as the programme will engage the students meaningfully. She noted that education is beyond the classroom, it’s about discovering the talent, gifts and abilities of Edo students.
“I am happy that this is coming at a time like this. This programme cuts across the three Senatorial Districts, the students should know that through this programme their talent will be identified and rewarded”.
In his speech, the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice Prof. Roland Otaru (SAN) has commended the board for the initiative and the governor for his support and sponsorship to ensure brilliant Edo students continue with their education fully funded.
He noted that the talent hunt is an investment in the future of Edo students appreciating the governor for the wise investment in the future of Edo students.
“This is part of the SHINE Agenda of the governor Okpebhole led administration and the SHINE Agenda is not just a policy framework but has a spiritual undertone and Edo people will benefit from the initiative”.
In a goodwill message the commissioner for information and strategy Prince Kassim Afegbua said governor Okpebhole’s passion for education is total as he is turning the narratives of the sector around.
He charged the newly inaugurated Committee to carry out its duties and responsibilities diligently with the fear of God ensuring that the best of our rural folks get the best of education. He expressed confidence in the ability of the caliber of personalities that made up the committee.
The Chairman of the committee Dr. (Mrs) Umumetu Momoh thanked the board for finding them worthy to serve in the committee, pledging they will do their best and carry out the assignment diligently and successfully inline with the SHINE Agenda of governor Monday Okpebhole.
“What the governor is doing through this talent hunt is not different from what the federal government is doing through
NELFund. We will do our best and ensure we are fair to all”.
