NGO plans essay competition for students, winner gets N1m

A non - governmental organisation, Robert Sunday Iworiso Foundation, has concluded plans to organise an essay writing competition for Senior Secondary Schools in Bayelsa State with a proposal of N1m for the overall winner .

The Director , RSIF, Chief Alphonsus Iworiso, who made this known during a news conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Friday, said runners -up would get consolation prizes .
According to the Director , the foundation is the brainchild of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr . Daniel Iworiso- Markson , in honour of his father .

He said the foundation had, through the tools of education and empowerment, carried out several programmes aimed at enhancing the well- being of life of indigent Bayelsans.

Iworiso noted that the Foundation recently organized a skills acquisition programme in conjunction with Helping Hands International to train over 100 people in perfume making, soap and detergent production , and baking .

On the importance of the planned essay competition, Iworiso said , “ The Niger Delta needs dreamers and thinkers. Essay writing will cause our students to dream bigger and think deeper . Our region needs leaders who are strategic thinkers and innovative decision-makers. ”

Also speaking , Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Michael Afenfia, said the competition would hold on August 23, 2017, at the Ijaw National Academy , Kaiama.

Afenfia, who is the Chairman of Association of Nigeria Authors , Bayelsa State , and the Speech Writer of the Bayelsa State Governor, said the competition would witness 100 SSS- 3 students drawn from the eight local government areas of the state.

He said 80 students would come from the public schools while 20 would come from the private schools.