By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The 2021 edition of the American Chemical Society(ACS) Sokoto state University International Student Chapter Global Challenge Science Fair for Young Scientists projects exhibition contest has ended with two students of Alheri Schools, Guiwa, Sokoto and a student from Airan International School, Bado, Sokoto respectively emerging as winners out of 8 contestants that featured at the exhibition challenge.
The challenge which had Ahmed Mohammed of Alheri Schools, Sokoto, as winner and Safiya Aminu of Airan International School, Bado as first runner up and Fatima Bala of Alheri Schools taking the third position featured different innovations that climaxed the contest .
Accordingly, the first, second and third winners won N120,000, N100,000 and N80,000 each in addition to N10,000 each to the trio by the University’s Chemistry Department.
Drawing the curtains to end the contest, in their separate remarks, the Head, Department of Chemistry and Dean, Faculty of Science, Sokoto State University, Dr Mansur Yahaya Ibrahim and Dr. Muhammad Sirajo said the vision of the competition was to promote and strengthen broad based participation of eligible science students in the state at the competition for excellence as performance driven measure in Chemistry.
They further added that the ACS initiative is to arouse and reawaken interest in Chemistry as a course of study, among Secondary school students as a roadmap to nation building.
” It will serve as avenue to encourage and sustain practical scientific drive among young talents for new innovative ideas to further the quest for technological excellence for Nigeria’s prosperity “, pointed out the duo.
Similarly, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar, represented by Hajiya Khadija Ibrahim Bako described the competition as a unique initiative and step in the right direction which availed students opportunities to rise above theoretical knowledge of science related courses.
” It will fast track and translates into better practical knowledge and ideas towards making Nigeria great .”
This, Abubakar noted should be encouraged by organising the event routinely to harness students talent for national development.
While urging the organisers of the competition to encourage participating students to do more, the state Commissioner Ministry for Higher Education, Prof. Bashir Garba, represented by Dr Saidu Isa also advised them to study hard, noting that the exhibition was interesting.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Sokoto State University, (SSU) Prof. Sani Mohammed Dangoggo, represented by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Dr. Nasiru Ibrahim Tambuwal, thanked the ACS for organising the competition, noting that the gesture would improve the students’ practical skills in science subjects. He, therefore, urged the organisers of the event to maintain the tempo.
Highlighting the main thrust of the project exhibition, the organizer of the event, who is also the ACS Faculty Advisor, SSU Chapter, Dr Thompson Isuagie said the essence was to motivate the upcoming scientists to pay more attention to practical aspects of science rather than theoretical aspect.
Dr Isuagie further called on the young scientists to utilize the opportunity availed to them by the ACS. He lamented that only 8 contestants participated in the event, despite the widest publicity given to the competition.
