Mercy Bassey Annual Quiz, Debate Event: Helen Eno Obareki Lauds Public Schools' Good Performance

 

Participating schools in the just concluded 2025 Hon. (Lady) Mercy Bassey Annual Science Quiz and Debate Competition have been commended for their doggedness throughout the preliminary rounds of the competition to the finals, where some winners emerged.

The Coordinator of the office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, gave the commendation at the grand finale of the fifth edition of the competition which held at Community Secondary School, Nya Odiong, in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.

Speaking through the Member representing Urue Offong Oruko State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Precious Selong, Lady Obareki said she was pleased with the intelligent positions taken by the debaters in the finals of the debate competition, lauding the Chief Sponsor, Lady Mercy Bassey for the yearly hosting of the academic exercise.

She particularly commended the choice of the topic of the debate, “Traditional and Cultural Practices are hindrances to ending Gender Based Violence in Mkpat Enin LGA”, stressing the need for everyone to work towards putting a stop to incessant cases of Gender - Based and all forms of Violence, by speaking up and holding perpetrators accountable.

The Chief Sponsor of the competition, co sponsored by GIFA and the host community development trust EMOIMEE, Lady Mercy Bassey described the grand finale as a culmination of months of intense intellectual engagement among schools across Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, celebrating excellence in science, debate, and public speaking.

She said the competition had evolved in five years from a public-school science contest into a comprehensive exercise for public and private schools, incorporating debates designed to foster critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills among the students, whose brilliance, resilience, and sportsmanship, have set them apart as the true stars of the competition and shining example of Mkpat Enin’s promising future.

At the finals of the quiz competition Dominion Academy, Ikot Ekong, emerged Champions, while Secondary School, Ukam, won the Debate category, of the competition.

Goodwill messages were received from NNPC/MPN JV EMOIMEE HCDT – Mkpat Enin, the President of the Eket Senatorial District Women’s Forum Mrs Idara Akpan, and stakeholders in the education sector and Mkpat LGA, while students of the host school captivated guests and students with a dance performance.

The delegation from the office of the First Lady comprised the President of the Uyo Senatorial District Women’s Forum Dr Ekaette Okon, the wife of the Chairman of Udung Uko Mrs Elizabeth Uno and Mrs Mae Edmond.