The Nigerian Army, North-East (NE) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), on Tuesday, organised a maiden inter-school quiz competition in Yobe.

The commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force, Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, during the flag-off of the competition, said that it was part of the army’s corporate social responsibilities and non-kinetic approach to fighting insurgency.

Mr Saraso, represented by Col. Liafis Bello, commander, sector signals brigade, said the maiden competition was between six public schools across the three senatorial zones of the state.

He also said that it was meant to strengthen civil-military relationship and sustain the non-kinetic approach of eradicating Boko Haram insurgency in the region.

He added that the gesture was part of the efforts by the Theater Commander, OPHK, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chuibuzi, to win the hearts and minds of the citizens within the region.

Also during the event, Muhammad Idris, commissioner for basic and secondary education in the state, said the initiative would complement the government’s efforts to revive education standards among students.

Mr Idris, represented by Hamidu Alhaji, permanent secretary in the ministry, said Gov. Mai Mala Buni’s administration was committed to revitalising the education sector.

According to him, this has led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the basic and secondary education sector of the state.

The commissioner, therefore, called on other organisations to emulate the gesture and commitment of the Nigerian Army.

(NAN)