The Sigma Club, University of Ibadan, on Sunday, November 5, 2023, held a press conference at the Alumni Conference Room in a bid to announce plans for the upcoming 2024 Roseline Etuokwu Sigma National Secondary School Quiz Competition.
Welcoming pressmen from different media outlets including Nigerian Tribune, Guardian, NTA and LPOs of the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan (UCJUI), Sigma Chief, Eniola Moses, a 400-level student of Linguistics, said the press conference is to reach the general public for awareness to intimate the general public about the plans for the 4th edition of the competition.
“The Roseline Etuokwu Sigma Secondary School Quiz Competition is a philanthropic initiative of the Sigma Club at the University of Ibadan, designed to connect with and inspire secondary school students. The club firmly believes that today’s secondary school students are tomorrow’s university scholars. By introducing the club to them during their formative years, we aim to instil values and provide guidance on how to thrive as students in higher education,”
“During this competition, we emphasize the importance of moral and educational knowledge, moulding students into well-rounded individuals who stand “for all that is pure” as the motto of the club. Our aim is to keep these students on the right path before they enter university, serving as a compass for making informed choices as they aspire to pursue higher education,” he said.
Speaking further, the Sigma chief and the chairman of the competition committee, Loyalist Olagoke Olaoluwa, while entertaining questions from the journalists explained that the 2024 edition of the competition will be covering schools from all over the country with over 20,000 students from 6,000 secondary schools across Nigeria’s 774 local governments expected to participate and it will be divided into three stages: State, Regional, and a final National competition.
The history of the competition was also highlighted as it was revealed that Old Sigmite Victor Etuokwu, the founder of Rams Charity Foundation has been the sponsor of the competition.
“In 2021, the competition was inaugurated by Old Chief Ibrahim covering some secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government of Oyo State and in 2022, the competition continued by Old Chief Eluwa Lucky, attracting over 300 secondary schools from all 33 local governments in Oyo State. More than 700 students participated, with various schools, students, and teachers receiving gift items. The first-place winner received a prize worth ₦250,000, the first runner-up ₦200,000, and the second runner-up ₦150,000.”
“In 2023, the competition expanded to the South West Region, drawing over 3,000 students from 1,000 secondary schools across six states. Again, various participants were rewarded with gift items. The 2023 first-place winner received ₦500,000, the first runner-up ₦200,000, and the second runner-up ₦150,000. Still under the leadership of Old Chief Eluwa Lucky and the 2024 edition competition is set to go national now under the leadership of the current Sigma Chief, Eniola Moses,” he said.
The prizes for the competition has also been increased as the whole competition now offer a total of N8 million in cash prize. Winners of the state rounds in 37 states (including FCT) will get N100,000 as they proceed to regional stages, where winners at regional states get 250,000 while at the National level, the 6th, 5th, and 4th positions get N100,000 each and the 3rd, 2nd and 1st positions gets 500,000, 750,000 and 1,000,000 naira respectively.
