By joshua NTA/ODODO VANGUARD QUIZ COMPETITION ENDS IN GRAND STYLE AS UBE/JSS RCM COMPOUND, MAGONGO CLINCHES TOP PRIZE.
Saturday, 4 July, 2026
News Credit:
Moses ADEDEJI
Editor -In-Chief/ Managing Director, Ogori Magongo TRUMPET
The grand finale of the NTA/Ododo Vanguard Inter-Secondary Schools Quiz Competition for secondary schools within the Okene/Ogori-Magongo Federal Constituency was successfully held on Saturday, 4 July 2026, at the Conference Hall of the Ogori-Magongo Local Government Secretariat, Akpafa.
The educational programme was sponsored by High Chief Meka Adesina Soje, a renowned philanthropist, international business mogul, political strategist, trailblazer, and role model to the youth. The initiative was designed to promote academic excellence, critical thinking, and healthy intellectual competition among secondary school students across the constituency.
The event was chaired by respected elder statesman Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami, OFR, a distinguished Nigerian administrator, industrial executive, and community leader from Kogi State. Alhaji Salami, who holds the revered traditional title of Ohi Otenyiete of Ebiraland, has served in several notable public and private sector leadership positions throughout his illustrious career. He was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to public service.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion was Dr. Ibrahim Ismaila Mosimabale, Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Okene, alongside other distinguished personalities from the education sector and beyond.
The programme was televised live by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Okene Station, allowing viewers across Nigeria and beyond to witness the keenly contested competition and the outstanding performances of the participating students.
The three finalist schools were:
– Community Comprehensive High School, Ogori, Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area.
– UBE/JSS RCM Compound, Magongo, Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area.
– UBE/JSS St. John, Agassa, Okene Local Government Area.
The competition featured intellectually stimulating activities, including debates on the state of the nation, poetry recitations, and quiz sessions. The students displayed remarkable brilliance, confidence, creativity, and exceptional academic potential throughout the event. Their impressive performances drew applause from the audience and underscored the importance of sustained investment in educational programmes that nurture young talents.
At the end of the competition, the following schools emerged as winners:
– First Position: UBE/JSS RCM Compound, Magongo, Ogori-Magongo LGA, with a cash prize of ₦300,000.
– Second Position: UBE/JSS St. John, Agassa, Okene LGA, with a cash prize of ₦200,000.
– Third Position: Community Comprehensive High School, Ogori, Ogori-Magongo LGA, with a cash prize of ₦100,000.
Speaking during an interview with Ogori-Magongo Trumpet Interactive, the Principal of the overall winning school, Mr. Ademola Ogundare, described the competition as a unique and unprecedented educational initiative in Kogi State. He commended High Chief Meka Adesina Soje for personally sponsoring a programme of such magnitude and ensuring that it was broadcast live on television.
Mr. Ogundare noted that the competition demonstrated the sponsor’s commitment to giving back to society, particularly to students in public schools. He observed that High Chief Soje, having passed through the public education system himself, had returned to invest in the future of younger generations through meaningful educational interventions.
He urged both the beneficiaries and other members of society to emulate High Chief Soje’s selfless commitment to education and community development. According to him, Nigerians should continually appreciate individuals who dedicate their resources to uplifting society.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to God for raising leaders like High Chief Meka Adesina Soje, adding that, as the popular saying goes, “When God blesses a community with a good child, thanksgiving should be a daily affair.”
In a telephone interviews, the convener and sponsor, High Chief Meka Adesina Soje, stated that the competition complements the educational initiatives of His Excellency, Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo. According to him, the programme aligns with the governor’s commitment to improving access to quality education through the payment of Common Entrance examination fees for primary school pupils, as well as free WAEC and JAMB registration for eligible Kogi State indigenes in secondary schools.
He emphasized that investing in education remains one of the most effective ways to secure the future of Kogi State and Nigeria, while encouraging students to remain dedicated to their studies and strive for excellence.
END 2026