Anambra Govt Celebrates CKC World Affairs Challenge Champions
By Praise Chinecherem
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo has congratulated students of Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha for emerging victorious at the prestigious 2024 World Affairs Challenge (WAC).
The students had represented Nigeria to secure the coveted global first-place position, which marked the first time the country was clinching Gold in the competition’s 32-year history.
The World Affairs Challenge, organised by WorldDenver, Colorado, United States empowers high school students to develop innovative solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This year, students tackled critical issues like climate change, poverty, and inequality.
The governor who spoke through his Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said the students deserved commendation for making the state and Nigeria at large proud through the feat.
She donated series of books she authored to the school in appreciation for their giant stride.
She said, “On behalf of Mr Governor, we congratulate and celebrate devotion, insistent and unwavering excellence, brighter future, children who are going to take us to the promise 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 these crops of students. When I left my house, I told myself I was coming to see children that will inspire me, not those I’ll inspire. Today, the students have inspired me.
“I want you to always ask yourself before you go to bed each day, what have I learnt today? What value have I added to my life? Determine to put a footprint in front of another each day.”
Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr Mrs Vera Nwadinobi commended the school, particularly Principal, who she described as passionate, especially with regards to mentoring young minds.
On her part, 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, Principal of the school, Rvd 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 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 were later presented with the awards by the Commissioner.
