#DareToBeBig: Paradigm Initiative Nigeria conducts ICT training for 27 Secondary schools in Imo State

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria in partnership with Youth for Christ, Owerri hosted 27 secondary schools spread across 6 zones in Imo State and a total of 1, 212 students at ‘Dare to be B.I.G.’ in Imo State.

Dare to be B.I.G (Brightest ICT Guy or Girl) is an exciting ICT quiz competition bringing early unique opportunities, positive peer pressure and showcasing Africa’s budding ICT talents from Secondary Schools.

 The event was spread over four days, from the 2nd to 5th June 2015, and featured the ICT training for the 27 schools participating schools leading up to the quiz competition on the final day of the event. Some participating schools wereAnara Community Secondary School, Government College Owerri,Bishop Lasbery Girls’ Secondary School, Chosen Secondary School, Mgbidi;Living Word Academy and Orlu Girls’ Secondary School among others.

The ICT quiz competition took place on Friday, June 5th at FSP Park, with 23 schools participating in the competition. At the end of heated rounds of the competition, CRM International Secondary SchoolMgbidichi took the much coveted first place winning a trophy for the school and Etisalat Cliqlite Tabs for students who represented the school. Chosen International Secondary School- Mgbidi and Urban Development Secondary School- Umunawere in2^nd and 3^rd positions respectively also winning trophies, Samsung Galaxy star phones and Infinite Hot phones. The principals and teachers from the participating schools were present, and they found the event very motivating. It spurred them on to believe in the future of Nigeria through the youngsters, and to aim to deliver quality training always.

Dare to be B.I.G is an initiative of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, has held in Lagos state and Ondo State in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Another edition is scheduled to hold on Nassarawa in October 2015. The project features a regional quiz competition for secondary schools in Nigeria, with a deliberate focus on ICT knowledge and application. Our team visits participating schools in the region, meeting with students in their school halls and introducing them to the benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the advantages of starting early. The ICT quiz competition and training is at no cost to the students or schools.