What a little beginning…The story of FCT schools that defeated US, China, South Korean schools at an entrepreneurial contest

However, all hope seem not lost as two public secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have opened a new array of hope that Nigerians can still rely on public schools for the future of the country. About a fortnight ago, students of Government Secondary School, Jikwoyi and Government Secondary School, Jibi, both in […]

However, all hope seem not lost as two public secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have opened a new array of hope that Nigerians can still rely on public schools for the future of the country.

About a fortnight ago, students of Government Secondary School, Jikwoyi and Government Secondary School, Jibi, both in Abuja, made the nation proud in far away Brazil when they floored their counterparts from countries like the United States of America, China, South Korea, South Africa and host Brazil, among other countries, to emerge first and second respectively in the Students Advancement for Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) world championship.

Nigeria went into the competition as the defending champion, having won the last edition hosted in Abuja last year. The country was first represented in the SAGE competition in 2007 by JSS Jikwoyi in Ukraine and won the event which it has won for the third time in a row.

To emerge victorious despite stiff competition from countries such as China, Brazil, South Africa, USA, the Nigerian students, were able to produce candle, Kampala and Plaster of Paris (POP) in 15 minutes.

For making the nation proud, the FCT administration has started the construction of a resource centre in each of the victorious schools where students and those in their neighborhood would gather to learn.

According to the FCT administration’s Secretary for Education, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu-Pai, the FCT Minister, Senator Adamu Aliero had asked that the students be honoured with a grand reception even as he noted that efforts are on by the administration to make public schools in the FCT more attuned to the global challenges.

However, while speaking with Sunday Trust, the FCT Coordinator of SAGE, Mohammed Ibn Saib, explained that SAGE is an international students’ network that links team of secondary school students to nearby university, business leaders and civic leaders. Its mission, according to him, is to advance youth and entrepreneurship activities in their communities emphasizing ethical business practices, social responsibilities, civic engagement and environmental awareness.

He disclosed that the network was founded by an American professor of Financial Accounts, Prof. Curt de Banc, in 2002. Bur it started operating in Nigeria in 2005 in Kaduna with the likes of Grace International College, Zamani College, Queen Aminat College.  Mohammed, who was in Brazil with the students, revealed that participating schools with their entries were judged based on certain criteria. “The criteria are new commercial enterprise; continue commercial enterprise, new social enterprise, global component, civic engagement, environmental stewardship, use of resources.”He said.

On the origin of the current feat by the two schools, he said, “in 2007, Ukraine hosted the world, and 11 students from   Junior Secondary School, Jikwoyi made records for Nigeria and Africa by bringing the first SAGE world cup to Nigeria and Africa”.

“Part of the projects they did was how to use beads to make various objects like pots, bags, toys among other things. They also made Vaseline, CDs, now. It is about encouraging the young ones to do something meaningful with their hands, instead of roaming about the streets. Other projects they did was the removal of used pure water sachets from the dump sites and turning them into shower caps etc. There are several countries that participated in the conference .here in Nigeria, Jikwoyi represented Nigeria,”he added.

For the 2009 edition of SAGE world contest, he said “we went to Brazil with two teams of GSS, Jikwoyi and GSS, Jibi and then these two schools went to Brazil with ID cards suspenders, and knitted cardigans which are sold to schools and individuals. They also produced key holders and shower caps made from used pure water sachets. They also made a seven-hour burning candles which are thicker and burn longer. They also used cane wood to make basket and chairs. And when they got to Brazil, they emerged tops”.  Cont’d from page 22

“GSS Jikwoyi went into the production of POP, interlocks and production of chalks for classrooms which are of higher quality than the ones they did last year. They also produced candles. The Jikwoyi team also manufactured tie and dye. They used waste to produced bio gas, i.e. bio gas”. He said.

The students, he disclosed, got the needed technical knowhow from a resource person who normally comes to the school to train them once a week and following which the students went in to the production of the items by themselves.

While speaking in an interview with Sunday Trust, the SAGE Advisor to the students Mrs. Amaka S.Udokeke said that she  told the students to brace up to the challenges that “ as long as they are able to make it here in Nigeria, they will make it outside Nigeria. We gave them talks and encouraged them that other countries are just like Nigeria. Even right now, a few of them that are graduating now have been linked up with some business men out there who will assist them”.

While reacting to the achievement recorded by the students, the Principal, Government Secondary School, Jibi, Mrs B. K. Amuga, said “I am extremely happy that our students have done Nigeria proud. I am really happy. It all started in 2006 when SAGE came to establish what they call entrepreneur club so that the students can acquire basic skills that will make them to be self-reliant and competent so that even after they finish schools, they will not be looking all over the place for jobs”.

She noted that Nigerians should stop looking down on public schools as they have the best brains and produce best students as those who went to Brazil.

Meanwhile, after the victory, GSS Jikwoyi that has won the championship for the third time in a row would no longer participate but keep the trophy and serve as consultants to other schools in the country. 

  In an interaction with this medium, one of the students, Edem Etim Ruth expressed excitement and joy at the success. According to her, “The feeling is wonderful, though it was not easy, but at the end, we came out victorious. Of course, we were a bit intimidated and scared that we might not emerge the champion, we were all tensed up especially when it got to the grand finale. I was scared that we might not be called up on for the presentation, but happily, we were called and it was so good… We presented our projects, we actually embarked on so many projects like candles, beads and shower caps made from used pure water sachets, suspenders, key holders, calendars and the rest.” Etim further enthused that she would like to be an entrepreneur in future. In her words, “What gave us the edge over other schools was the quality of our projects. We really worked hard on the projects. My vision for myself is to become an entrepreneur because the aim of SAGE is to teach youths to be self-reliant and I have been able to learn how to be self-reliant. I want to become a business person so that I won’t have to depend on the government for employment. I also want to be an employer of labour.”