UROMI/Nigeria: The Delta State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with Seplat Energy in advancing quality education through sustained investment in teacher development, student empowerment and capacity building across the state.
The Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, gave the assurance at the grand finale of the 2026 NNPC/Seplat PEARLS Quiz Competition for secondary schools in Delta and Edo States, held on Wednesday in Benin City, Edo State.
Dr. Ashibogwu described the partnership between the Delta State Government and Seplat Energy as a model for public-private collaboration in education, noting that it has continued to improve teaching standards and learning outcomes through regular training and retraining programmes for teachers, non-academic staff and students.
He disclosed that the annual competition attracted more than 476 secondary schools from Delta and Edo States before a rigorous selection process narrowed the contest to four finalists, who competed in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Economics.
At the end of the keenly contested academic challenge, Notre Dame College, Ozoro, Delta State, emerged overall champion with an impressive 66 points.
Henson Demonstration College, Benin City, finished second with 47 points, while Lumen Christi College, Uromi, Edo State, secured third position with 64 points. Ogini Model School, Ogharefe-Oghara, Delta State, placed fourth with 51 points after a commendable performance.
Congratulating the winners and other participating schools, Dr. Ashibogwu applauded the students for their outstanding display of academic excellence, discipline and intellectual capacity.
He also commended Seplat Energy for sustaining the PEARLS Quiz Competition over the years, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital development and one that continues to inspire academic excellence, critical thinking and healthy competition among young learners.
According to the commissioner, the partnership between the Delta State Government and Seplat Energy has so far facilitated the training of more than 21,000 teachers, non-teaching staff and students, significantly enhancing the quality of education in public secondary schools across the state.
He reaffirmed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration remains committed to building a world-class education system through sustained investment in infrastructure, the construction and renovation of schools, provision of modern classroom furniture and learning facilities, as well as continuous capacity development for teachers.
“The remarkable performance of Delta schools in competitions such as this is a reflection of the deliberate investments and sound educational policies of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration, which is determined to provide every child with access to quality education,” he said.
Dr. Ashibogwu urged other corporate organisations to emulate Seplat Energy by investing in education through meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives, stressing that government alone cannot meet the growing demands of the sector.
He further encouraged students to view academic competitions not merely as contests but as platforms for intellectual growth, self-discovery and leadership development, urging them to remain focused on excellence both inside and outside the classroom.
The commissioner was accompanied to the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Secondary Education, Pastor Henry Akambe; the Director of Schools, Lady Winifred Ighavbota; and other senior officials of the ministry.
The NNPC/Seplat PEARLS Quiz Competition is one of Seplat Energy’s flagship educational initiatives designed to promote academic excellence, reward outstanding performance and encourage students to pursue careers in science and other critical fields, while complementing government efforts to improve the standard of education in Nigeria.
