By Chinedum Treasure, Onitsha
Today was the formal reception of the CKC students that clinched the first position in the 2024 World Affairs Challenge, organised by WorldDenver.
Recall that the news about the feat achieved by the CKC boys broke on 10th April, 2024. The formal reception of the boys could not be held until the Principal went to Denver for the award ceremony.
The Anambra State Education family led by the Commissioner, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the PPSSC chairman, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu and the ASUBEB chairman Dr. Mrs. Vera Nwadinobi attended the ceremony.
The Commissioner said that the students deserved commendation for making the state and Nigeria at large proud through the feat. She also spoke on behalf of the state governor as she paid glowing tributes to CKC. She noted that Christ the King College Onitsha is one of the best secondary schools in Nigeria.
“On behalf of Mr Governor, we congratulate and celebrate devotion, consistency and unwavering excellence, brighter future, children who are going to take us to the promised land. We’re here to celebrate the brightest and greatest. Amidst Nigeria’s numerous woes, I see light at the middle of the tunnel. Our future is no longer a mirage. I also see solutions to our environment with this crop of students.
The chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr. Mrs. Vera Nwadinobi commended the school, particularly the Principal, who she described as passionate, especially with regards to mentoring young minds.
On her part, the chairman, Post Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC), Prof Mrs Nkechi Ikediugwu praised the school for setting the pace for others, saying, “We’re proud of you for defeating US, Turkey and other countries that participated in the tournament.”
Earlier, the Principal of CKC, Rev. Fr. Dr. Celestine Arinze Okafor described the feat recorded by the students as an invitation to the path of impactful education.
“This is a competition that challenges you to know the issues, think through them and find a practical solution by developing a project. And this is not the end of it; you have to market the ideas to others so they can use your solution to solve the problem which affects us all.
“Anambra has always been a vanguard in Nigeria education and I’m confident that innovative and solution-oriented education will come from Anambra to Nigeria and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa,” he added.
The students, Ekufu Ernest, Obuna Somtochukwu, Agbanaje Ifechukwu, Umeodinka Emmanuel, Ejike Ekene, and Ubah Jason, led by their coach, John Onuigbo received the award certificates from the commissioner who also delivered the school certificate to the principal.
The award plaque was lifted to the admiration and applause of the audience.