11th September, 2012
A 12-year-old Junior Secondary School student, Godbless Raphael, on Tuesday won the Edo Governor’s award for being the first to resume for the 2012/2013 academic session in the state.
Raphael’s promptness earned him a laptop computer.
The student, who attends Our Lady Fatima College, Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area was said to have resumed at 7:00 am on Monday when schools opened for the new academic session in the state.
Similarly, Annet Dominic, a primary four pupil of Azama Primary School, Jattu, also got three dozens of exercise books for coming first under the primary school category of the award.
The state Commissioner for Education, Mr Ikpenisi Omorotionmwan, in a message to the presentation ceremony advised other students to emulate the feat, especially as the winner was stepping into secondary school for the first time.
Represented by Mr Suleiman Okhimamhe, a Chief Inspector of Education, the commissioner said monitors were sent to all schools in the state to ensure that the awardees were rightly chosen.
He stressed that besides encouraging prompt resumption, the award was also initiated to uplift the standard of education in the state.
In his response, Raphael described his selection “as a surprise” and commended the government for the initiative.
He said he woke up to prepare for his first day in secondary school at about 5:00 am and pledged to excel in his studies.
The Principal of the school, Mr Paul Igiemokhian, commended the initiative and urged the winner to reciprocate government gesture by working hard in his studies.