Mustapha Muhammad Tukur
Two students of Alheri Schools, Guiwa and a student of Airan International School Bado, Sokoto State, respectively have won the American Chemical Society (ACS), Sokoto State University International Student Chapter, 2021 Global Challenge Science Fair for Young Scientists project exhibition contest.
The exhibition which had 8 contestants with different innovations, had Ahmed Mohammed of Alheri Schools, Sokoto, as the first runner-up, while Safiya Aminu of Airan International School, Bado, came second and l Fatima Bala of Alheri Schools emerged third.
The first position won a prize of N120,000, the Second position went home with N100,000, while the Third position got N80,000, aside the donation of N10,000 each from the Department of Chemistry of the University.
In their separate remarks, the Head, Department Of Chemistry and Dean, Faculty of Science, Sokoto State University, Dr Mansur Yahaya Ibrahim and Prof. Muhammad Sirajo said the vision of the competition was to allow all eligible science students in the state to participate in the competition, thus improving their performance in Chemistry.
They further added that the ACS initiative was to arouse and reawaken interest in Chemistry as a course of study among Secondary school Students as a roadmap to nation building.
On her part, the Commissioner Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar, represented by Hajiya Khadija Ibrahim Bako, said the competition was a good step in the right direction. She stressed that practical science subjects or courses should be put above theories.
She suggested that the competition be routinely done to harness students’ talent for national development.
Also speaking, the Commissioner Ministry for Higher Education, Prof. Bashir Garba, who was represented by Dr Saidu Isa, encouraged the participating students to do more.
Prof. Garba advised them to study hard.
He said the exhibition was encouraging and interesting.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Sokoto State University, (SSU) Prof. Sani Mohammed Dangoggo, represented by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. 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.