First Class Private Academy of Warri, Delta State, amassed 70 points to emerge champions of the 2024 Annual LAPO Secondary School Quiz Competition.
The competition took place at the LAPO Institute for Microfinance and Management Studies, Benin, Edo State, on Friday.
Also, Peniel Academy, Boji-Boji Owa in Delta State with 65 points finished second while Pioneer Education Centre, Benin City, with 55 points finished third.
In fourth position with 35 points was Graceville College, Asaba, Delta State; Don Bosco Science Academy, Ukhu, Ekpoma, Edo State with 40 points was fifth, while Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi, Edo State, scored 25 points.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of LAPO Microfinance Bank, Cynthia Ikponmwosa, said more than 225 public and private secondary schools from Edo and Delta states participated in the quiz competition.
She stated that the competition was rooted in the bank’s philosophy of promoting literacy, educational empowerment, and the transformational power of knowledge.
She added, “Today, we are not only celebrating the achievements of these bright students but also reinforcing our belief that literacy is a fundamental pillar in creating a prosperous, resilient society.
“At LAPO Microfinance Bank, we see literacy as the foundation upon which sustainable development rests. Education opens doors to opportunities, dismantles barriers, and ultimately empowers individuals to lift themselves and their communities out of poverty.
“By promoting literacy and academic excellence, we seek to create a ripple effect of positive change, instilling skills, confidence, and vision in the next generation.
“It is with this vision in mind that LAPO established this quiz competition in 2006, with the goal of stimulating curiosity, intellectual rigour, and a passion for lifelong learning among students in Edo and Delta states.”
The Executive Director of LAPO, Ayo Obadiora, said issues faced by the Nigerian educational sector, including limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers, and insufficient oversight, gave rise to the quiz competition.
