From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
A 12-year old Student of Mercy Technical High School, Nbawsi, Abia State, has emerged the winner of a global competition held in Singapore.
Miss Favour Chioma Akaeme, an SS1 student, who hails from Nnezu Isunabo in Igwebuike Autonomous Community, Uturu in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, clinched the first prize for innovation at the Action for Earth- Global Youth Summit with her project called affordable Solar Energy Kit designed to power up to four bulbs and charge phone in the innovative and creative competition.
Miss Chioma Akaeme, the first daughter of Mr and Mrs Uchenna Emmanuel Akaeme, beat over 50 other students from the host country, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam, among others during the summit,
Actions For Earth – Global Youth Summit (GYS), sponsored by Hemispheres Foundation is a platform for International Youth to network and discuss collectively to solve some of the world’s green complex problems.
It is designed to be an organisational framework for educational cum eco-business for Singapore. It is also one of the few Singapore events that cut across different sectors (youths, environment, education, social entrepreneurship and changing mindset of the community).
At the competition which lasted from November 23 – November 26, 2022, participants showcased their constructed projects, mostly green innovative projects, which focus ways to solve varying global issues, ranging from business to climate change.
Chioma participated in the junior category involving students between 12 – 17 years and records show that collectively, 4,500 youths, aged 12 to 23 years old from ASEAN and Asia Pacific have attended GYS since its inaugural launch in 2014.
It was equally gathered that the summits have impacted more than 200,000 students and the community through school exchanges and community outreach activities.
In addition to discussing global environmental concerns, the participants engaged in community outreach and visited these cities successful and sustaining environmental projects such as water treatment plant, energy processing plant, waste to energy sites, incineration, plant, nature reserves to learn how these cities made progress in coping with their environmental challenges.
At the summit, students present their projects to the audience and judges and the audience is asked to vote for the students afterwards.
Chioma who was the only African student who took part in the competition, said she was initially afraid if she would make it, but disclosed that when she remembered all they went through preparing for the competition and what her parents spent to sponsor her, she faced the intimidating the all-white audience with courage.
“When this competition started, I was afraid. There was nobody to vote for me. My principal who went with me was already a member of the panel of judges and they were not allowed to vote for anybody; I was now left alone.
“And when I remembered the money my parents spent, remembering ever thing we passed through before going to Singapore, the courage came back and after, I was happy that, at least, when I go home, I will know that I made them proud,” Chioma said during an interview with The Oracle Today in Umuahia.
Principal of Mercy Technical High School, Nbawsi, formerly Mercy Girls High School, Nbawsi, Rev. Sister. Lilian Ifeoma Chibiko, who took Chioma to Singapore, said the little brain won the competition on account of her boldness during her presentation.
Rev. Sister Chibiko disclosed that she promoted Chioma from JS 2 to SS1 on account of her brilliance, adding that she was coping very well.
She called on the state government and individuals to encourage the little girl to attain her full potentials..
“I see this girl as a gifted child. She braced all the odds. Even when the crowd would have intimidated her, she managed boldly to withstand and be the best; not that our innovation is too wonderful but her skill in presentation. So, if government can come in, help her, I think she will be a wonderful child,” the Principal said.