As a buildup to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the existence of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD), the Northern region office of the Commission in collaboration with one of the leading mobile companies in the Northern Region, Africell, has organized a regional quiz competition for pupils in the Northern region with the theme: “NCD @ 30 in the promotion of Democracy and Good Governance in Sierra Leone”.
The programme that was hosted on Friday, November 15, 2024, at the St. Francis Secondary School witnessed the participation of five (5) schools at the NCD @ 30 Northern Region Quiz Competition. The competing schools include the Magburoka Boys School, the Mathora Girls School, the St. Francis Secondary School, the St. Joseph Secondary School and the Birch Memorial Secondary School.
The occasion was graced by over 500 people ranging from pupils to academics and government officials in the northern region. The competition was arbitrated by a carefully selected panel of judges that included the Office of the Ombudsman, Ministry of Youth Affairs and the University of Makeni (UNIMARK).
Delivering the Keynote address, the Mr. J.I Kargbo, the Deputy Director of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), applauded the NCD for organizing such a brilliant programme that is geared to not only educating pupils about democracy and good governance but to also instill nationalism and patriotism in students. He urged the participants to exhibit their talents and make their school proud by putting up their best performance.
Mr. Kargbo urged students witnessing the programme to put up their best behavior and accept the outcome even if it is not in their favour. “In any competition, there is going to be a winner and a loser,” he noted.
The highly contested competition saw the Magburoka Boys School emerge winner while the St. Joseph Secondary School in Makeni took the second position.
The idea to organize such a program is in line with the NCD’s efforts to propagate civic education and at the same time engage children in democracy school clubs to continue to promote peace and tolerance. NCD also used this event to create a platform for interaction among our school clubs. The Regional Quiz Competition was organized in all the regional headquarter towns even as the Commission prepares to host the National Quiz Competition in Freetown where the National winner will be awarded during the symposium marking the actual celebration of the Commission’s 30 years of existence.