From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Organisers of Okposi Junior Students Reading Challenge, Spell Quest and Quiz Competition in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, said that the reading habit of children in the component schools has been revived.
The facilitator, Nwachukwu Eze Ajah, stated this on November 9, at Holy Rosary College Okposi, Ohaozara LGA, during the 2024 edition of the event sponsored by Anayo and Mercy Foundation (AMF).
He explained that the event was aimed at restoring the reading habit of the participants comprising only Junior Secondary School (JSS2) students: “This Season 3 started with a rally comprising over three hundred students followed by quiz competitions meant for the selection of the best students, the best schools and the best coaches’ awards.
“It is in our quest to appreciate everyone that the awards were grouped for the schools, best individual students and the coaches and we have introduced a reading challenge using a text mainly to ascertain the level of the comprehension of the students.”
Besides the prizes, Ajah said that he has been visiting schools with the gospel of making reading a daily habit, stressing that the combined efforts had impacted greatly on the lives of the children as many of them now willingly arrange reading timetables for themselves.
He harped on the open and transparent nature the officials, and charged the schools to set up reading clubs as a way of enhancing reading. He also appealed to parents to always regulate their children’s outdoor activities to enable them concentrate on their studies.
Principal of Cedar Model Secondary School, Okposi, Mrs. Judith Nwigwe thanked God that her school won the second-best student award and urged parents to always encourage their children to read.
Her counterpart of Prime Immaculate College, Okposi, Mr. Emeka Chikezie also extolled his students for clinching the second-best school and the best coach positions. He described the competition as an eye opener to the benefits of reading.
Principal of Government Secondary School, Okposi, Titus Okoro Ogbu said that his students had not missed the competition which entered its third year, stressing that it had changed a lot in his school as students now read on their own in preparation for the exercise.
He applauded Anayo and Mercy Foundation and FANEV Readers’ Club for changing the narrative in Okposi and advised other schools to key in.
One of the award winners from Cedar Model College, Miss Favour Paul said that she drew her reading attitude from the life of Ben Carson, stating that the competition had improved her reading skill: “This competition has made me to understand that many people have become successful through reading and it is on this note that I prepared a timetable for my daily reading.”
Traditional ruler of Okposi Okwu Autonomous Community, Onyibe Chuku Agwu, graced the event and gave royal blessing.