Model Secondary School in Akure, Ondo, has won the 11th National Quiz Competition on Legislature and Democracy, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

The competition took place at NILDS headquarters on Monday in Abuja. The school scored 75 points to defeat five others representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The winning team received N1 million, laptops and school bags as prizes, including scholarships for its two participating students up to university level for their outstanding performance.

Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua, Edo (South-South), came second with 60 points and won N500,000, laptops, and school bags. Government Secondary School, Kuwiri, Jos, Plateau (North-Central), came third with 50 points and received N300,000, laptops and school bags.

Other participating schools included St. Patrick’s College, Awka, Anambra (South-East), Jigawa Academy for the Gifted, Bamaina, Jigawa (North-West) and Government Day Secondary School, Bojude, Gombe (North-East).

Speaking after the victory, the team lead, Heritage Babayode from Model Secondary School, Akure, said he felt happy and blessed, adding that the achievement rewarded the students’ hard work and diligence.

Mr Babayode said the students regularly attended Saturday study sessions to read and practise questions in preparation for the competition. He said it was the school’s third visit to Abuja for the competition, after finishing second in its previous two appearances before finally securing first position.

Mr Babayode thanked their teacher, Simdile Edebo, for devoting time to coach them, stressing that he sometimes withdrew them from regular classes to prepare for the quiz.

In his congratulatory remarks, the director-general of NILDS, Abubakar Sulaiman, described all participating schools as winners, irrespective of their final positions.

Mr Sulaiman commended the students for their courage, commitment and determination to attain academic excellence, noting that their performances demonstrated impressive levels of intelligence.

“Some questions you answered today were questions that we on this side could not answer. Interestingly, the school that answered that one question correctly did not win. This goes to show the level of intelligence displayed here today. Therefore, you are all winners, and I congratulate every participating school,” he said.

Mr Sulaiman also applauded the teachers for their dedication and commitment to preparing the students, describing their contributions as essential to the competition’s success.

He urged the students to sustain their enthusiasm for learning, remain diligent in their studies and continue to develop their knowledge of legislative and democratic processes.

Mr Sulaiman said the competition was designed to deepen students’ understanding of legislature and democracy.

(NAN)