Student Interview With Ochuba Chinaza

Hello esteemed student blog readers, we got hooked up with Ochuba Chinaza Jessica,
a senior secondary school student of Major Model Secondary School, Aba
who finished in second place for the Senior Category at Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017. 
In this exclusive interview, she takes us through how she prepared for the writing competition and how excited she was at claiming an accolade at this year's event. She also offered some words of advice to fellow students.

Hello Chinaza, it's nice catching up with you after your 2nd place triumph at Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017.
Do give us a little insight into how excited you were to be proclaimed winner.

My joy and excitement knew no bounds
I was very happy to be called out as one of the winners at this year's event.

Were you expecting a medal with the kind of performance you put in writing?

Actually, I was just optimistic about the whole thing. I knew I could do it , but was not so sure of how the results would turn out.


Also Read : Winners Of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017
Oh!
Then, how did you prepare for the competition


I took my time to prepare for the competition because I expected the best students in Aba to come around.

I asked a lot of questions on the essay topic, both to my teachers and the google search engine. I also made out time to observe the recent happenings in the society related to the essay topic.
Lastly, I indexed all the points I have gathered, studied them and got ready for the big day.
I never left any stone unturned.

Wow, that's impressive. The preparation brought the results.
We must congratulate you once more

(Ochuba Chinaza Jessica of Major Model Secondary School Aba was awarded a ₦10000 cash prize for finishing second at Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017)

The reactions from friends ,family and school after the competition, how has it motivated you ?

My teachers couldn't stop smiling when I was called up to the podium on the award presentation day.

They repeatedly said 
'We are proud of you,we know you'd never let us down'

My parents although not present at the award presentation event ,couldn't stop singing songs of praise when they heard the news.
To show their joy,they got me a lot of goodies.

Seeing my family, teachers and friends all happy, only serves as a motivation. 
I'm reminded that I can do even more to put more smiles on their faces in the process of achieving my goals.

What are your thoughts about Innovative Future and it's recent surge to help students improve ?

I think they are really doing a great job.

I must confess, I'm glad that there are people out there who still have that vision to inculcate some moral principles in students and also to help them out academically.

Concerning the Innovative Future blog,I think they are really creating a very great platform for students to learn online.



Nice One Jessica.
Now what's your advice for fellow student readers on this platform

I've got three piece of advice for fellow students.

First,they should always believe in themselves even when it's most difficult to do so.

We must never give up trying to achieve success.Note that every failure gives us an opportunity to begin again ,as long as we keep trying.
We must never doubt our natural ability to be successful.

Secondly ,as students our best friend should be our books because Readers are leaders everywhere.

Third,we must master the habit of time management.
Since no time wasted is ever regained, we must work to get maximum output with the limited time we have.

We must thank you for your time and hope to hearing from you next time.


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Student Interview With Ochuba Chinaza

Hello esteemed student blog readers, we got hooked up with Ochuba Chinaza Jessica,

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Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017 Winners

A successful completion of the maiden edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition
for secondary school students in Aba was capped of with presentation of awards and cash prizes to winners in an event held on Saturday 28th October 2017 at Abia State College of Health and Sciences Aba.

The event which was anchored by Tv Presenter Rose Jonathan and had special guest Mrs Wilfred Promise & Mr Ndukwe Onyekwere gracing the event with a host of teachers,parents and students also in attendance.

A quiz game played among students was swiftly followed by announcement of the winners of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017.

Meet Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017 Winners

Junior Category Winners

(Ogwo Joy from Dynamic International Christian School finished In 3rd and went home with a cash prize of ₦5000)

(Ike-Ofomalu Chioma Favour from Intellectual Giants Christian Academy finished in 2nd Place and received a cash reward of ₦8000)

(Nnamba Chibuike Success from Intellectual Giants Christian Academy claimed 1st place and claimed the grand prize cash of ₦12000)

Senior Category Winners

(Onyemelukwe Brandon of Dority International School finished in 3rd place and walked away with a ₦5000 cash prize)

(Ochuba Chinaza Jessica of Major Model Secondary School finished 2nd and was rewarded with a cash prize of ₦10000)

(The grand cash prize ₦15000 winner John Isaac Ifeanyichukwu is a student of Divine Wisdom International Christian School)

Schools with winning candidates were also rewarded with a free online promotion on the Innovative Future Blog and social media platforms.

Represented Schools at Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017

• Methodist High School 
• Dority International Christian Academy
• Merit Base International Christian Schools
• Confidence Academy Secondary Schools
• Ugobest Comprehensive Secondary Schools
• Dynamic International Schools
• Major Model Academy
• Diamond Schools
• Kanma Model Schools
• Divine Wisdom Christian Academy
• Intellectual Giants Christian Academy
• Shammah Christian Academy
• Better Foundation Academy

Innovative Future wishes to thank everyone who has been a part of this maiden edition of the Essay Writing Competition which was proudly sponsored by the Innovative Team.

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Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017 Winners

A successful completion of the maiden edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition

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Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017 Report

Innovative Future is delighted to announce the successful completion of the writing phase of the maiden edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017.


The writing competition which took place at Abia State College of Health and Sciences Aba , Abia State was attended by 60 secondary school students spread across 13 different schools in the Aba region.

33 Senior Secondary School Students and 27 Junior Sedcondary School Students were writing!

(Students writing at the maiden edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition)

Topics For This Year's Edition Of The Competition

Senior Secondary School Category

• Highlighting the Positive Effects of the Internet on the Modern Student

Junior Secondary School Category

• Battling Negative Peer Influence

Writing commenced at 12:05 pm with all entrants on sit and was concluded at the expiration of an hour (1:05pm). Students were served light refreshment shortly after the exercise which was conducted in a tranquil atmosphere.

Entrants,parents,prospective sponsors and school teachers are by this notice invited to promptly attend the award presentation ceremony billed for Saturday 28th October 2017 at the same venue.

Time : 2:00pm prompt

Cash prizes will be handed out to the best three students from each category at this year's gala!

Will you be there ?

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Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017 Report

Innovative Future is delighted to announce the successful completion of the writing phase of the maiden edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017.

Read More »

How To Prepare For An Essay Writing Competiton

Ever heard the saying that proper preparation prevents poor performance
and also that practice makes perfect?

It's the simple trick to achieving almost anything.Yes! Even winning an essay writing competition.

What's An Essay?

Essays are brief, non-fiction compositions that describe, clarify, argue, or analyze a subject.

Students might encounter essay assignments in any school subject and at any level of school, from a personal experience "vacation" essay in middle school to a complex analysis of a scientific process in graduate school.

Components of an essay

An introduction
Thesis statement
Body &
Conclusion.
   

Forms Of Essay Writing

There four major types of essay writing.

Narrative Essay

This form of essay writing requires that the writer tells a story about a real life experience or event.

Descriptive Essay

This form of essay writing requires that the writer creates a clear mental picture of  a person or object.

Expository Essay

This form of essay writing as the name suggests,reveals or exposes the truth about something by giving almost undisputable facts.

Persuasive Essay

This is a type of essay written to convince the reader about a particular fact.

Following the announcement of the maiden edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition ,we've come up with a guide to help you prepare and excel , not only at this year's writing competiton but everywhere there's an essay contest.

Are you ready? 

How To Prepare For An Essay Writing Competition

1.Get A Clearer Sense Of The Essay Topic

If the writing topic for the essay competition has been disclosed, then the first step to take would be trying the understand the topic from the reader's perspective.

Let's help you understand better.

Topic For IF Essay Writing Competition :

Highlighting The Positive Effects Of The Internet On The Modern Student

To help you get a clearer sense of this topic, you could look up

1. The definition of a highlight
2. What a positive effect represents
3. The Internet and
4. Use of internet by modern students

Understanding this basic concepts can help you understand the reader's viewpoint and places you in a better position to write what is required.

2.Get Your Resources

Just like you need raw materials to come up with a product, you also need some resources to come up with that perfect essay.

For an essay on 'Combating negative peer influence ' it would be beneficial to get a couple of books that are related to the essay topic.
Studying these books will improve your understanding of the essay topic.

If you prefer studying online, then trying searching for related posts on the essay topic using the Google Search.

Try searching for posts using keywords such as 'Peer pressure, peer influence, negative peer influence, how peers affect each other, and other related keywords.

3.Study Essays

Going through essays, especially those related to the disclosed topic serves as a huge boost.

Consider different writers diction and sequence of thoughts presentation. This helps you upgrade your writing skill set.

Research has it that lovers of literary works are better writers.

4.Practice Writing

You may be a very good writer, but writing prior to a competition gets you in the rhythm and you could actually discover that you can write a lot under a limited time.

The thoughts will flow as quick as your pen does.

Try different writing styles.Employ the idioms and use the correct figures of speech.

When you're done with each writing, get someone (preferably an English Tutor) to grade your work.

5.Know and Practice Exam Ethics

This includes a good understanding of the behaviors and actions that constitutes obedience or cheating in an exam.



Keeping to exam ethics represents safe passage to the grading system. This is because, defaulters to exam ethics are screened out even before the actual grading begins.

This link gives you an insight to exam ethics.

Conclusion

Proper preparation promotes proper performance in any activity.
You can get to the podium just by putting in an extra shift.
You've done the first step by reading this post.
Now, let's get to work!

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How To Prepare For An Essay Writing Competiton

Ever heard the saying that proper preparation prevents poor performance

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Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017

Yeah! It's what you've been waiting for!

We are pleased to announce the maiden public edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition which is open to secondary school students.

If you believe you've got really great writing skills and got what it takes to beat the best ,then you really should be a part of this!

IF Essay writing competition is designed to promote the values of writing amongst student in a spirit of healthy competition.

Writing is one of those skills that has survived over the years and a possession of great writing skills would be a huge plus to you as a student.
William Shakespare made a mark just by putting down thoughts unto a paper and this competition is designed to rekindle the writing zeal in Nigerian students

Topic For This Year's Edition of Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition

Senior Category (SS 1-3)

-Highlighting the benefits of the internet on the modern student.

Junior Category (JSS 1-3)

-Combating negative peer influence.

Cash Prizes

Senior Category

1st Place  - ₦15000

2nd Place - ₦10000

3rd Place - ₦5000 

Junior Category

1st Place - ₦12000

2nd Place -₦8000

3rd Place - ₦5000


Schools with winning participants will get a free online promotion on our blog and social media accounts.

IF Essay Writing Competiton Date

21st October 2017
Time : 11:00 am
Venue : Abia State College of Health and Sciences, Aba ,Abia State.

IF Essay Award Presentation Date

28th October 2017
Time : 2:00 pm
Venue : Abia State College of Health and Sciences, Aba.


Registration forms for Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017 are available at schools in the Aba region for a ₦500 token.

Entries for the competition closes on 13th October 2017


The image below contains relevant info on the competition and can be downloaded for social media shares.

More info can be viewed under the IF Essay Tab on the blog menu.

For sponsorship and further enquiries contact Innovative Future admin

+2349099959359
or send emails to
Innovativefutureblog@gmail.com

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Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition 2017

Yeah! It's what you've been waiting for!

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4 Ways to Make Education Less Expensive in South-East Nigeria

A popular saying, "If you say education is expensive, try ignorance" seems to suggest that education has to be expensive
to be the best. But does it really have to be so expensive that even a middle class parent cannot afford quality education for their child?

It's an open secret that the cost for education in South Eastern Nigeria ,comprising Abia, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra States has skyrocketed in recent years. This upturn is one of the reasons why parents seem to be loosing interest in getting basic education for their kids.

A study by Innovative Future on secondary schools in the South East discovered on average that the tuition fee for a day student is at #10000 while for a boarding school student is #25000. For the six years the student is expected to be in school, the parents would have spent #180,000 for a day student and #450,000 for a boarder. Is that really affordable?

You can check out this list of expensive schools in Nigeria.

Something can be done to make it even more affordable.

These Steps Will Make Education Less Expensive In South Eastern Nigeria.

1. Rejuvenation Of Public Schools 

There are thousands of government owned schools scattered throughout the South-East Nigeria but very few of them with adequate learning environment or promptly paid teachers.

Previously there were more public schools than individual owned schools but a downturn in the quality of education provided  at the public schools heralded the dawn of this era where private schools with very greedy owners are ruining the educational system.

The people at the top (government) must move to arrest and solve deficiencies in the public school system or we will continue on this sojourn to a time when quality basic education becomes non-affordable for the average Nigerian.

In a rich nation like Nigeria, funds should be injected towards providing high class educational facilities at the public schools while a measure should be put in place to ensure that teachers receive salaries promptly.

School fees in public schools are cheaper bargains for parents than the greed influenced fees they have to pay at the private or organization owned schools.

If we can get the public educational system off and running, then the cost of education becomes less expensive.

2. Combating Examination Malpractice 

Nothing has eaten so deep to the roots of education in South-Eastern Nigeria like this
ugly menace and nothing has also contributed to expensive tuition fees in the region than it.

Students are already assured of passing exams (both external and school) by some unethical processes but now must pay a huge fortune.This means less work for the students and more work for the parents who cater for the expenses.

Excellent certificates of other students are sold off to other people who have more money, leaving no way out of the dark for brilliant students who would have more contribution to make to the society.

We slowly crept into this substandard educational system and it will require a slightly larger effort and, of course some time to leave this mediocrity.

The fight against malpractice like JAMB did will be easily won if everyone ranging from the examination bodies, schools, parents and students can combine forces in the battle.

Examination bodies should enforce strict exam rules and regulations which every student must abide to or get severely punished. Corrupt officials must be deracinated from the system and discrepancies ironed out.

The school fulfills their own role by providing qualified teachers and facilities which serves as a springboard for the students to do extremely well. If students learn and know just enough, then there would be no need for malpractice.

Parents should encourage their wards to study hard and never pay a dime for any whit of exam malpractice as doing that would only encourage them.

Their is no other ticket to passing exams than preparing for it. Students must pay close attention to their study habits and also basic examination ethics which they must abide to.

If everyone plays their part just like every player on a soccer team should do, then we can effectively eradicate malpractice.

Parents then would not have to pay exorbitant amount of money as fees for their ward to pass examinations. Examination Insurance Agenices have killed education in Nigeria

3. Curtailing Extracurricular Activities 

Engaging in some beyond the class exercises improves learning and is the reason why excursions, sports competition, quizzes and IQ tests have been heavily incorporated within the school curriculum.

Education becomes expensive ,however ,when more attention is given to these activities than the real school work. To a certain extent, curricular activities should be made to seem more appealing than the extra.

In the South East for example, a parent have to spend a lot of money just to prepare a preschool or nursery student for a graduation party. This doesn't include the fee paid to the school for such events which really does not have to be expensive.

Extracurricular activities should be kept at its proper place which is, an exercise to improve knowledge, not an occasion for parents to spend exorbitantly.

4. Scholarship Schemes 

Individuals with excellent performance at school should be rewarded with free education or at least education at a less expensive fee.

Governments, Popular figures and school owners have set up many scholarships scheme over the years but in most cases, funds meant for this purpose are mismanaged.

The Rochas Okorocha Scholarship scheme (ROSS) for Imo state indigenes, Cowbellpedia mathematics quiz competition, Postgraduate Scholarships For Nationals Of Developing Commonwealth Countries, and our annual Innovative Future Essay Writing Competition are good measures to make education less expensive in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Scholarships give extra motivation to students .

Conclusion

"Education is the greatest weapon you can use to change the world," Nelson Mandela said.
Making education less expensive is the best way to enforce this change.

Let's join this battle line!

Drop your thoughts in the comments section.

Related - Meet The Youngest Abia State Governor - Miss Joy

Read More »

4 Ways to Make Education Less Expensive in South-East Nigeria

A popular saying, "If you say education is expensive, try ignorance" seems to suggest that education has to be expensive

Read More »