Mr. Eric Ni with some children awardees.
The grand finale of the Young Ministers Competition, Season 4, which recently held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, lived up to its billing. The event, which was graced by many dignitaries from the Nigerian and Chinese communities, was in honour of overall winners of the yearly competition. There were also schoolchildren from different schools in Lagos, who came to cheer and identify with their mates.
Mrs. Nnena Omeohia, Director, Kiddies Vision Magazine, organisers of the competition, set the tone for the day by taking guests through the process of selecting the overall winners.
She explained that the Young Ministers Competition was established to test Nigerian students on how well they know the country, as well as enlighten them on the functions, organs and government activities, facts and histories of the country to guide them towards societal values and good governance.
She said: “The competition came into being, when we realised that Nigerian students know practically nothing about their country, whereas they are quite familiar with foreign movies, cartoons, soccer, actors and so on. So, the purpose of this competition is to nurture them on excellent leadership, as well as set innovative ways of educating Nigerians through media.”
The competition, which is a 32-week TV show, focuses on five selected ministerial and commissioner seats each. The ministerial seats, which are competed for by secondary students, cover five selected federal portfolios and their policies, while the commissioner seats, which focus on these same portfolios and policies, are competed for by primary school pupils.
But it was not all about academics alone, as guests were also treated to beautiful and exciting Nigerian and Chinese dance and cultural performances, which added spice to the glamorous occasion.
In their speeches, representatives of Lagos government lauded Mrs. Omeohia’s initiative and efforts at nurturing Nigerian students. On their part, Mr. Eric Ni, Chairman, China Industrial & Commercial Enterprises Association, Ms. Zhou Jun, President, Association of Chinese Women in Nigeria, Chen Zhang Manandy Chen, Chint Electric Nig. General Agency and Isaiah Zhen, all from Chinese Community, expressed delight at being able to do business in Nigeria and contribute their quota to its development through such meaningful activities as the Young Ministers Competition.
At the end, five students came first in the different segments of the Young Commissioners and went home with N100, 000 each, while another set of five emerged in the second position and were awarded N50, 000 each. In the third place were another five students, who got N30, 000 for their efforts.
In the Young Ministers category, five winners, who came first in the different sections were also given N100, 000 each, while those that emerged second went home with N50, 000 each and winners in the third position received N30, 000 each.
Eric Ni also gave scholarship of N20, 000 to 100 students. The programme, sponsored by Seven Star Paper & Allied production Ltd., was supported by Oriental Hotel, CHINT, Weekday Socks, Goodwill, KAWAY Nig. Ltd and COAW.
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