Academic Planet School Aba Triumphs in NILDS Quiz, Clinches Abia Ticket to National Finals

Academic Planet School, Aba, has emerged winner of the Abia State level of the 11th edition of the National Quiz Competition on Legislature and Democracy, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in conjunction with Abia State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Umuahia.

Academic Planet School scored 75 points to finish ahead of its closest rival, Adventist Secondary Technical College, which polled 65 points in a keenly contested competition. Edubase Secondary School came third with 55 points.

Marist Brothers Juniorate finished fourth with 35 points, while Mercyland Redeemers High School and Ndume Otuka Community Secondary School placed fifth and sixth with 25 and 15 points respectively.

With its victory, Academic Planet School will represent Abia State at the national stage of the competition scheduled for October 2026.

The winning school received a cash prize of N70,000, while the second and third-placed schools received N50,000 and N30,000 respectively, in addition to educational materials and certificates of participation.

The competition tested the students’ knowledge of legislative processes, democracy, governance and Nigeria’s constitutional system. Participants randomly selected and answered questions across three competitive rounds.

Declaring the event open, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, represented by the Acting Clerk and Head of Legislative Services, Pastor Promise Chijioke Onwukwe, commended NILDS for sustaining the initiative, describing it as an important platform for encouraging young Nigerians to develop interest in governance and public affairs.

Onwukwe explained that the competition was originally scheduled to hold in the hallowed chamber of the State House of Assembly but was moved because renovation work was commencing at the complex.

He also urged the participating students to take the competition seriously and continue to pursue academic excellence, stressing that opportunities of such nature could help prepare them for leadership roles in the future.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Chigozie Ekeoma, urged the students to recognise their participation as an achievement in itself.

Ekeoma, who recalled her own experience representing her school in a quiz competition as a student, told the participants that they were selected because they had distinguished themselves among their peers.

She charged them to remain committed to learning and to see the competition as an opportunity to deepen their understanding of legislation, democracy and governance.

According to her, NILDS’ initiative was important because it introduces young Nigerians to the workings of democracy from an early age and encourages them to appreciate the values of integrity, transparency and responsible citizenship.

Representing the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, the Abia State Coordinator of the competition, Mrs. Stella Ngozi Paul, described the 11th edition as more than an academic contest, saying it was also a celebration of knowledge, citizenship and democratic values.

She said the programme had, over the years, become an important civic education initiative aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of legislation, democracy and governance among young Nigerians.

Paul urged the students to see themselves as future participants in Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that the lessons acquired through the competition extended beyond academic knowledge to leadership, teamwork, integrity and respect for diverse opinions.

She also announced the cash prizes for the top three schools and disclosed that participating schools would receive educational materials, while students would receive certificates of participation.

Also speaking, the Head of Scholarship, Abia State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Ihuoma Moses, described the event as significant, saying it provided the students with an opportunity not only to compete but also to learn, exchange ideas and deepen their understanding of democracy, good governance, leadership and legislation.

She commended NILDS for its continued efforts to expose young Nigerians to democratic principles and active citizenship, adding that the competition would help students develop intellectual capacity, critical thinking, confidence and leadership skills.

The event was attended by Mrs. Nne Ralph Ekpo, Director of Administration, among other directors in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education; Chief Foster Orji Awomukwu, Director of Information and Protocol, Abia State House of Assembly; Mr. Chidike Ejiekpe, Director of Administration, and other officials.

With its victory at the state level, Academic Planet School, Aba, now faces the challenge of representing Abia State at the national competition in October, where it will compete against winners from other states.