An NGO, IG Aguowo Foundation, has awarded a full scholarship to three females of St. John Vianney Science College, Igbariam, Anambra State, who won the National ICT for Girls Competition with their innovative virtual reality (VR) project.
This scholarship is coming a few days after the director of the institution, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Ebube Muonso) announced his scholarship for the trio to make the school proud.
Leader of the IG Aguowo Foundation, who visited the school on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, said the scholarship will cover both their secondary education and their university training.
While expressing gratitude to the three students: Immaculate Ebube Ikegwuonu, Camilla Anyadike, and Nweke-Nonso Oluchi for their noble feat, the NGO said that the scholarship is their way of motivating students, who sincerely strive for excellence in their academic pursuits; even as they commended the director, principal and teachers in the school for giving their best in the training of the students.
The director of the school, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Fr. Ebube Muonso), appreciated them for their philanthropic gesture and prayed to God to continue to bless and sustain them. He maintained that such a gesture will motivate more students to strive for excellence, and also sustain the developmental rhythm of the school.
He expressed pride in his students’ achievements and encouraged other students to work hard towards bringing honor to the school, and to themselves.
He said, “This national championship is a monumental achievement for our school and a source of immense pride. It exemplifies our commitment to empowering young women in STEM fields. As a science college, we understand the impact of technology and empower students to use it as a force for good. Hence, this win isn’t coming as a surprise. It’s the result of years of hard work.”
Fr. Ebube Muonso, who also announced that he rewarded Mr. Onuigbo, the ICT coach, with the sum of two million naira (N2,000,000) for helping the girls win the championship, maintained that the reason is to motivate both teachers and students to strive for excellence.
The National Girls in ICT Competition, organized by the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, aims to foster technology innovation among girls in secondary schools across Nigeria. The competition brings together teams from all 36 states to showcase their tech-based projects.
St. John Vianney Science College’s winning project, “M-Tag VR,” allows users to explore iconic Nigerian landmarks, such as Zuma Rock while learning about diverse cultural elements from various Nigerian tribes.
St. John Vianney Science College defeated teams from across the country, and eventually won the national championship title.
Throughout the competition, the Anambra team demonstrated exceptional skill and creativity. They started by winning the Anambra state competition, then moved on to claim the Southeastern regional championship, outmatching teams from Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, and Enugu. Their journey culminated on the national stage, where they faced fierce competition from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Rivers and Lagos states secured the second and third-place positions, respectively.
The National Girls in ICT Competition is organized with the help of implementing hubs in each state, providing logistical support and ensuring a smooth competition process.
Kodex Africa supported the team from Anambra State in their journey to the national title.
