By Sagir Ado Abubakar

In its effort to promote computer literacy and create awareness on information and communication technology (ICT) among the students, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Tuesday 3rd December, 2013 conducted its 6^th Jigawa State annual ICT quiz competition for secondary schools. The event which witnessed the attendance of Alh. Aliyu Ahmad Shangurum Director Science Department, a representative of the Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Alh. Muhammad Musa Permanent Secretary SSG Office and Comrade Usman Ya’u Dutse National Union of Teachers (NUT) Jigawa State was conducted at Jigawa State Library Dutse. 

The ICT quiz Competition hosted eleven senior secondary schools across the state with more than 80 students in attendance. Malam Faisal Muhammad from GDASS Jahun offered the opening prayers, while Sagiru Ado Abubakar CITAD who served as the MC introduced the Special Guests of Honors and asked them to take their seats on the high table.

Malam Ahmad Yakasai who represented the CITAD’s Executive Director made the opening remarks. He welcomed the special guests of honors, teachers and the students. He then explained the importance of the ICT education to the students and the general society.

In his remark Alh. Aliyu Ahmad who served as the chairman of the occasion stated that the quiz competition was a great opportunity to acquire knowledge outside the school and also an opportunity for a student to represent his school and sometimes even his state. He then commended CITAD the organizers of the quiz competition and described them as partners of progress that have been working with the Ministry of Education Science and Technology long time. He assured CITAD that the Hon. Commissioner was calling you to expand your activities in the state. Lastly, he extended the apology of the Hon. Commissioner Ministry for Education Science and Technology for not been with us in the occasion. Because the Commissioner went out with the permanent secretary to condole one principal who lost his wife recently, adding that his absent is not intentional.

After the remarks, Malam Isyaku Garba of CITAD, read the rules and regulations for the quiz to the schools and required the schools to nominate two participants each. He then told the participants that they are required to answer five questions in each round. The first round featured six schools, these were: GSS Gadadin, GSSS Taura, GDASS Jahun, GDSS Kiyawa, GDSS Birnin Kudu and GSCS Dutse. GSS Gadadin and GSCS Dutse answered all their five questions and scored 10 marks each. GDASS Jahun answered four questions and scored 8 marks. GSSS Taura answered three questions and scored 6 marks, while GDSS Kiyawa and GDSS Birnin Kudu answered only two questions and scored 4 marks each. In view of these, the chairman announced that GSS Gadadin, GSCS Dutse and GDASS won this round and they should wait for the final round.

The following schools participated in the second round: GSTC Birnin Kudu, DMIS Dutse, GUSS Ringim, GDSS Gagarawa and GUSS Hadejia. GSTC Birnin Kudu answered only one question and scored 2 marks. DMIS Dutse and GDSS Gagarawa answered three questions and scored 6 marks each. GUSS Ringim and GUSS Hadejia answered three questions and scored 6 marks each. Therefore, the chairman announced that the schools that got 8 marks each (GUSS Ringim and GUSS Hadejia) will go for the final round and asked the quiz master to give additional round to DMIS Dutse and GDSS Gagarawa that scored 6 marks each, with intention of getting one school that will join GUSS Ringim and GUSS Hadejia in the final. It was very hot and exciting round because the quiz master had to give them additional six rounds before DMIS Dutse emerged winners.

The following schools participated in the final round. GSS Gadadin, GDASS Jahun, GSCS Dutse, GUSS Ringim, GUSS Hadejia and DMIS Dutse. After answering five questions each, the following schools emerged winners: GUSS Ringim came 1^st and won a laptop donated by the office of the Secretary to the Jigawa State Government. GSS Gadadin won the second 2^nd Place, a desktop computer donated by Jigawa State Advisory Council on Economic Management and Investment Promotion (JACEMIP while the third place went to GSCS Dutse which won a printer donated by the Jigawa State Ministry of Information.

In his remarks Alh. Muhd Musa, Permanent Secretary SSG Office thanked CITAD for this wonderful innovation, and commended the effort for the promotion of the ICT in the state to not only the students but to the general citizens. He then assured CITAD that the state government will continue partnering with the organization in all its programs.

Comrade Usman Ya’u chairman National Union of Teachers (NUT), Jigawa State Wing thanked CITAD and appealed to the government to provide more computers to schools and employ more ICT teachers in the state. Alh. Ado Muhd, a parent of one participants from GUSS Ringim that emerged winners of the 1^st place position told that he came to Dutse from Kano for a different purpose but heard that his son was among those that participated in the quiz. He explained that he had to abandon what brought him to Dutse and joined the quiz here. He then thanked the Almighty Allah that his son was among the winners. He commended the effort of CITAD and requested the organization to be organizing such event twice or thrice in the year.

Malam Isyaku Garba made the vote of thanks, where he thanked the Almighty Allah for His mercy who guides us to witness this program. He then thanked the following organizations for their effort to donate the following prizes:

Other prizes included wall clocks for the teachers of the second and third schools which each of the finalists won 5-yard of shadda material. Also all participants were given branded t-shirts produced with support from the Jigawa State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. In addition, all participants and their teachers were given certificate of participation.