Miss Chikezie Favour, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) 2 student of Mountain Crest School, Owerri, Imo State, was on Monday honored by President Muhammadu Buhari for winning the Junior Category of the national essay competition organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), as part of events to mark the agency’s 20th anniversary.
The 12 year-old Favour was among awardees presented plaques by the President at the Federal Executive Council Chambers.
Other awardees on the day include, Matilda Daniels for the Senior Category of the Essay Writing category, CSP. Francis Osagie Erhabor and Hamza Adamu Buwai for the Public Service Integrity Category, as well as Adeboye Opeyemi who won the music category.
Speaking to journalists at the ICPC headquarters, Favour described receiving her award from President Muhammadu Buhari as surreal.
“I’m very grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for presenting the award to me. I never thought that I could meet the President of my country. I cannot describe the joy I felt collecting my award from him and taking pictures with him. I can never forget this moment”, she said.
When asked if her school prepared her specifically for opportunities such as the essay competition, Favour who beat students from across the country with her essay on the topic: “A Good Name is Better Than Gold”, said her teachers and the proprietor of her school encourage students to build on their talents and take on challenges that will improve their intellectual capabilities.
“My teachers and the founder of my school encouraged me at different stages of the competition. I had their full support and I thank them for this” she said.
Speaking on the topic said: “Yes indeed, a good name is better than gold. A good name is earned by your good character and behaviour. You can’t earn a good name simply by what people say about you. People will only give you a good name when they judge your actions as good. A good name can earn you gold, but not all successful people have their names written in gold”.
Also speaking on her receiving her award from President Buhari, winner of the Senior Category, Matilda Daniels said it was a rewarding moment.
The 14 year old wrote two essays, “The role of the youth in the fightagainst corruption” and “My dream of a corruption-free Nigeria”, to emerge winner for the Senior Secondary School category.
On her part, the founder of Mountain Crest School Owerri, Mrs. Akudo Okafor, said her student’s win in the Junior Category of the essay competition is great moment in the history of her school. “Indeed, I am excited today. The prayer of every parent is that their children excel. I see my students as my children and their success as mine also. Today is a day I cannot forget in a hurry”.
“Teaching students the best when it comes to writing skills is part of curriculum. I must commend ICPC on this competition because it brought out the best in students. The process was rigorous and transparent and this is why having my student emerge tops is quite fulfilling for us at the school”.
