The Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD conducted its Fouth Jigawa State ICT Quiz for Secondary Schools on Thursday, 16th June 2011 at State Library in Dutse. The event witnessed the attendance of high ranking officers of the state civil service and prominent individuals. In attendance were Malam Hussaini Ayuba, Deputy Director, Ministry of Education, Alh. Idris Isah, a representative of the General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Dutse, Ibrahim Dabo, Ministry of Information, and Alh. Ismatu Babangida, of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology among other distinguished personalities.

The ICT competition hosted nine Senior Secondary Schools and Eighteen contestants struggle to emerge winners of the fourth ICT quiz.

In his opening remark the Chairman of the occasion, Alh. Hussaini Ayuba, Deputy Director, Ministry of Education and Science Technology, commended CITAD for its tireless effort in the promotion of ICT knowledge in Jigawa State, as this was the fourth ICT Quiz CITAD conducted in the State. Alh. Ayuba emphasized the significant of ICT in modern society and urged the contestants as well as the others to put more effort towards acquiring ICT knowledge.

In addition, he expressed the readiness of the Jigawa State government to engaged and support any program that facilitates ICT knowledge. According to the Deputy Director, some social problems our society faces can be solved with acquisition of ICT knowledge. He cited example with unemployment a problem that could be reduced if computer knowledge is provided.

Earlier, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai, the Quiz Master in his welcome remarks on behalf of CITAD, read the ICT Quiz proceedings to the contestants and declared the Quiz open at 12:45 noon.

The competition with nine senior secondary schools in contest was described by spectators as very exciting. The nine schools that participated in the quiz were: Government College Birnin Kudu, Science Senior Secondary School Lautai, Government Senior Secondary School, Hadejia Fantai, Government Senior Secondary School, Roni, Government Girls Senior Secondary School Kazaure, Government Senior Secondary School, Kazaure, Government Girls Unity Senior Secondary School, Gwaram, Dutse Model International Senior Secondary School and Government Science Technical College Hadejia.

The competition held three interesting rounds. In the final round of the quiz, six finalists competed to emerge as winners of the prestigious ICT quiz but it was Dutse International Secondary School that prevailed with Eight Points ahead of Government Science Technical College Hadejia which had Six Points and ended up winning second place, while Government Senior Secondary School, Kazaure came third with Four Points.

As it is the tradition of the ICT competition, eight prizes were line up for the participating schools and their teachers: These prizes as well as the winners were as follows: First place, a Brand New Computer, donated by the Ministry of Education Science and Technology was taken by Dutse Model International Secondary School, and presented to the School by the Chairman of the occasion, Alh. Babangida Ismatu, Second place, also a Brand New Computer, donated by the Office of the Secretary to the Jigawa State, and won by Government Science Technical College Hadejia which was presented to the School by Alh. Idris Isah, a representative of the General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Dutse, and the Third place prize a three in one printer, donated by the Jigawa State Ministry of Ministry of Information went to the Government Senior Secondary School Kazaure. The prize was presented to the school by Ibrahim Dabo, Ministry of Information, Jigawa State.

A Television Set as the prize for the Best Performing Student donated by Alh. Kiri M. Shaaibu, Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Contributory Pension Scheme, won by Yusuf Nuhu of Government College Birnin Kudu while Halima M. Lawan of Dutse Model International Secondary School won the prize for the Best Female Performing Students, a stereo Radio Set, donated by CITAD.

In addition the prize for the Teacher of the Best Performing School a scanner donated by Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Jigawa Branch went Mr. Aniedu Ndaruke of the Dutse Model International Secondary School. The prize of the Teacher of the First and Second Runner up Schools, a Wall Clock each donated by CITAD went to Malam Haruna Idris of Government Science Technical College Hadejia and Malam Sha’ aibu Umar of Government Secondary School Kazaure.

The three winning schools will now represent Jigawa State in the National ICT Quiz that will hold in August later this year at the Digital Bridge, Institute , Kano. The Jigawa State Quiz was the first in a series of state-level competitions to select state representatives for the national competition. The next round of state competition will hold in Bauchi State on 30th June, 2011.