ESSAY WRITING CONTEST FOR FCT SCHOOLS

POWERING COMMUNITIES AND EMPOWERING YOUNG MINDS

JRB Solar Investment Limited in conjunction with Rauf Badamosi Foundation had its maiden edition of JRB PRIZE for Renewable Energy with a grand style, grand finale celebrated at Barcelona Hotel, Wuse 2, Abuja. The essay writing contest had 151 contestants from 47 junior secondary schools in Abuja. 

This legacy corporate social responsibility is geared towards allowing the younger and more brilliant generation to be part of the global energy transition. The grand finale drew people from all walks of life to grace the occasion. Principals, parents, students, loved ones and well-wishers of the five finalists from the five schools were all present. 

At the event, the Managing Director of JRB Group, Dr Jimoh Rauf Badamosi, represented by the Head, of Corporate Communication, Theophilus Expressed deep appreciation to the schools that made it to the final. “I want to thank all the 47 schools that participated in this maiden edition of the contest. This is a testament to the fact that something amazing is happening in each of the schools. Our task at JRB Solar Investment Limited is to bring out the best in each of us for all of us to have a sustainable future” 

He went further to extol the great impact of JRB Solar Investment Limited in lighting up many parts of the country with its premium solar solutions. “At JRB Solar Investment Limited we have been pioneering and breaking new grounds with our cutting-edge technology in line with the global goal of green energy. We feel it is also very important for young people to bring in their ideas as well, this is why the theme of the essay is MY BLUEPRINT FOR CREATING A GREENER FUTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.”

The competition was in different phases, with the students submitting their entry first, after which a team of expert graders selected the top ten as the shortlist for the semi-final rounds. The school that made it to the semi-final were invited to the JRB BUILDING to have a physical writing and verification of the authenticity of their first entry. At the end of the semi-final exercise, five essayists were invited to the grand finale with the chance to win N3.5M worth of awards. 

The five finalists had the opportunity to defend their written essays with a five-minute oral presentation of the theme of the contest.

The Secretary for Education, Education Secretariat of the FCT, Dr Danlami Hayyo, represented by the Director, FCT Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Olobashola Kalawole. In his speech, he applauded the great initiative of JRB Solar Investment Limited in the renewable energy landscape. “We have been challenged by JRB Solar to begin to think in line with engaging young students to be part of the innovation in the solar sector. We will be greatly happy, if the company can fully carry us along through the process, to ensure that we also add value and give expert advice, will be of great help and more impetus to this amazing and brilliant idea.” He added. 

“We will encourage JRB Solar Investment Limited to widen its publicity to ensure that students in public schools are also given the awareness they need to also participate in the contest and also allow them to showcase their innovative skills.” He said.

Speaking during the event, the Head of the Solar Engineering Unit, Engr Prince Bernard, itemized the groundbreaking initiative of the company which has currently transcended the usual powering of homes with solar systems to the building of mini-grids in rural communities, schools or large corporate organizations. 

“The installation of the ongoing projects of 1 MGW in Onne, Rivers State is another monumental proof that solar energy is now a real deal. As we keep engaging in the clean energy transition, our focus is shifting into building mini-grids for communities and not just installation of solar panels in homes and corporate organizations.” He spoke. 

“Only recently we completed the solar installation of the entire stretch of the 9.6km third mainland bridge, Lagos with superlative solar streetlights that have a life span of over 25 years. If you have been to Lagos recently and you visited the third mainland bridge, you will attest to the night glory of Lagos.” He added. 

At the end of the presentation, the twelve-year-old, Oluwademilade Falade of Premier International School, Wuse Abuja, clinched the grand prize and went home with the sum of N500,000 alongside a Samsung Tablet. The First Runner-Up was received by Sawwamah Ahmad Maigari, of Claret International School, who won the cash prize of N400,000 plus a Samsung Tablet.  The Second-Up went to Rahma Muhammed Idris who took home the cash prize of N300,000 plus a Samsung Tablet from Nigeria Tulip International School, Abuja. The Third Runner-up was Kayla Damilo Gado of Regina Pacis College, Garki Abuja, who clinched the sum of N150,000, alongside a Samsung Tablet. The fourth Runeer-Up went to Okpaleke Somachi Chimdi, who got the sum of N100,000 and a Samsung Tablet.

During the presentation of the awards to the winners of the contest, the chief judge of the competition, Dr Joan Oji, challenged male students to buckle up and study harder to challenge their female counterparts. She made the remarks, after noticing that the entire five finalists were females. She went on to express her joy, having the full assurance that sciences are not an exclusive preserve of the male folks but rather, a necessity for every gender to give it a shot to contribute their quota to the development and advancement in science and technology, especially in the deployment of renewable energy solution. 

JRB Solar Investment Limited's organizing committee of the event expressed warm appreciation to everyone who made the event a success. And promised to make the subsequent edition a lot bigger better and all-encompassing, as they mull making it more national rather than limiting it to the schools in the FCT only. 

It was an excellent display of brilliance and creativity and a moment of glory for the teenagers who were the recipients of the award. 

Theophilus Enemali 

Head, Corporate Communications