CELEBRATING THE INTELLECTUAL TENACITY OF MASTER EMMANUEL AKHERE
COMPETITION
Master Emmanuel Akhere, a JSS 3 student of St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, dazzled the judges of the 2022 National Junior Engineers, Technician and Scientist (JETS) competition held at Keffi, Nasarawa State with his brilliance, resilience, focus and critical thinking skills and he emerged the National Champion in Basic Computer.
The National JETS competition is organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and its aim is to promote the teaching and learning of Science and Technology in a bid to discover budding talented and intelligent scientists that will take the country to greater heights using technological inventions. The theme of this year’s competition is “The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in Addressing Food and Human Insecurity Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria.
The contest started with a preliminary evaluation involving all the secondary schools in Lagos State. Through focus and sagacity, Master Akhere qualified for the second stage with 24 other participants from various private and public secondary schools in the State. He won the contest at the second stage and qualified for the zonal stage. His determination to prove himself worthy in learning led him to represent Lagos State at the Southwest JETS competition held in Abeokuta where he emerged champion, and this made him the Southwest geopolitical zone representative at the National JETS competition held in Nasarawa from Monday, 21st February to Friday, 25th February, 2022.
At the National level, Emmanuel refused to be intimidated by the wonderful performances of contestants from other geopolitical zones in Nigeria; he stood tall and decided that defeat is not an option. At the intellectual battle for the national trophy in Basic Computer, Emmanuel engaged the power of his intellect, soared above other participants and emerged champion with a hundred percent score in the written test and quiz.
Emmanuel has proven beyond doubt that the seed of hardwork always grows to yield lasting fruits and enduring legacy. His tenacity at different stages of the competition corroborates the saying of Benjamin Franklin who said that “An investment in Knowledge pays the best interest”.
He has been received and celebrated by the Proprietor of St. Gregory’s College, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, and the Administrator of the College, Rev Father Emmanuel Ayeni; the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo; the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mr Abayomi Abolaji; and the Director of Special duties, Mr Adeyemi Adebayo.