Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company, has dolled out the sum of N10,425,000 to winners of the second edition of its PEARLs quiz in Imo.
The cash prizes were presented to participating students who won in different categories, their schools and teachers, in Owerri, on Monday.
Our correspondent reports that the quiz is one of Seplat Energy’s signature educational Corporate Social Investment programmes in Nigeria which it carries out, in partnership with its Joint Venture partner, the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS).
Alvana Model Secondary School, Owerri, emerged winners with a prize of N5 million for school development and N100,000 each in scholarship grants for the three students who represented the school while the teacher went home with a laptop.
Delight International School, Owerri, came second and got a prize money of N3 million, while the three students who represented them got N75,000 each in scholarship grant and their teacher also got a laptop.
St John Leonardi Model Secondary School, Owerri, came third and got a prize money of N1 million, with the three students who represented the school getting N50,000 scholarship grants and their teacher, a laptop for teaching.
Speaking, Seplat’s Director, External Affairs and Social Performance, Chioma Afe, thanked the joint venture partners, the Imo Government and the participating schools for making the PEARLs Quiz worthwhile.
Afe, represented by Grace Amadi, the company’s General Manager, Partner Relations said that the initiative was to ensure that Nigerian students can compete globally with their peers.
“This is a laudable initiative by the NNPC/Seplat JV, dating back to over 12 years and we are happy that this has got to Imo.
“ It is not just about teaching them, we need them to also practicalise what they are being taught; and in fact, evolve into creative minds and ideas, so that they can innovate, which is what the world is looking for today”, she said.
Also speaking, Seplat’s Managing Director, Eastern Asset, Ibi-Ada Itotoi describing all the participants as winners, who can take from the confidence earned from participating to conquer the world.
Itotoi, represented by Emmanuel Otokhine, Base Manager, Eastern Asset, said that 314 secondary schools entered for the 2025 PEARLs Quiz, with 100 making it to the second stage and four to the grand finale.
Also, Mr Salihu Garba, of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory
Commission (NUPRC) commended the Seplat for upholding excellence in business operations and taking the initiative to the education sector to help groom leaders of tomorrow.
The Imo Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, represented by his Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, pledged a conducive environment for Seplat to operate and meaningfully impact its host communities.
In addition to the PEARLs Quiz, Seplat Energy Plc held the STEAM competition through which it rewarded six schools who excelled in innovativeness with the sum of N250,000 each.
The schools include the Urban Secondary School, Owerri; Federal
Government Girls College, Owerri; Mountain Press Secondary School; Benny Poly Max College; Alpha Junior Seminary and Faith Academy.