FGGC Emerges Champion of Cross River’s Maiden Tech Spark AI Challenge for Secondary Schools

Ukorebi Esien |  October 21, 2025 

CALABAR - Federal Government Girls' College (FGGC), Calabar, has emerged overall winner of the Tech Spark Artificial Intelligence (AI) Challenge for Secondary Schools, recently held in Cross River State, outshining nineteen other schools in a two-day competition that celebrated creativity, innovation, and digital intelligence.

The contest, which was organised by the True Elites Group in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Youth Development and Skills Acquisition, featured three major segments: debate, quiz, and AI product presentation, all aimed at promoting technological literacy and problem-solving skills among students.

At the end of the keenly contested challenge, FGGC Calabar clinched the first position, while West African People's Institute (WAPI), Diamond Hill Road, came second, and St. Patrick's College, Ikot Ansa, finished third.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey, who represented the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, commended the organisers and participants for what he described as a "remarkable stride in reawakening educational innovation and excellence among young people."

"The future belongs to those who can think critically and innovate. What we have witnessed today gives us hope that Cross River students are ready to compete globally," Senator Odey said.
"As a government, we are committed to integrating technology-driven learning into our school system to prepare our students for the digital economy."

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Skills Acquisition, Barr. Ukam Ijom, applauded the initiative and reaffirmed the government's resolve to empower young people with 21st-century skills.

"This challenge is not just about competition; it is about preparing our young people for the realities of a new world order driven by technology," Ijom said.
"Our youths must not only consume technology but create it. What we have seen here today proves that Cross River students are capable of building solutions that can transform our economy."

He further stated that the outcome of the challenge has shattered long-held perceptions about public schools and the capacity of young people from the state.

"For too long, we have believed that our public schools cannot compete. This event has put that notion to rest. Our students have shown brilliance, confidence, and originality. They only need the right platforms and this government is determined to provide those platforms," the commissioner added.

Ijom also hinted that the Ministry will work with private partners like the True Elites Group to institutionalize similar programs that combine skills training, mentorship, and innovation labs across the state.

"We will continue to support creative ideas like this, because our young people deserve the opportunity to learn, experiment, and lead. The future of Cross River State rests in their hands," he affirmed.

In her remarks, the Founder and President of True Elites Group, Ms. Bassey Ekpeyong, explained that the competition was designed to stimulate early interest in technology and artificial intelligence among secondary school students.

"We realized that most tech programs focus on university students. The True Elites Group decided to start earlier — at the secondary school level — where curiosity and innovation can best be nurtured," Ms Ekpeyong said.

She added that the performance of the students was inspiring, describing their presentations and debates as evidence of strong intellectual and creative capacity among Cross River students.

"Their understanding of AI concepts, their curiosity, and their confidence show that with the right guidance, these students can build world-class innovations. "This experience has reaffirmed our belief that Cross River and Nigeria have the human capital needed to lead Africa's digital future." The Calabar born entreprenuer added.

Ms Ekpeyong disclosed that the Tech Spark Challenge will extend across the six South-South states, with Cross River serving as the pilot phase. Winners received ₦1 million, a brand-new laptop, and a one-year intensive training in AI and technology, while second price winners recieved N500,000, a brand-new tablet, and third place winners received a cash prizes of N200,000, a phone and  one-year intensive training in AI and technology also goes to both the second and third place winners

She also announced plans to establish Digital Literacy and AI Clubs across secondary schools in the state to sustain the momentum and provide continuous learning opportunities for students.

About 20 secondary schools within Calabar metropolis participated in the challenge, including Hope Waddell Training Institute, Government Technical College, Edgeley Memorial Girls' Secondary School, and Government Technical Secondary School, Mayne Avenue, among others.

CRUTECH matriculation: Prof. Nsing Ogar to act as VC till...

Ukorebi Esien | 02 May 2019 |

Prof. Nsing Ogar, chairman committee of Deans, Cross River University of Technology will today perform all the ceremony of the VC as the institution matriculates new sets of students into the varsity.

This was made known by the Chairman of the school's governing council, Dr. Emil Inyang. Aslo, in a complementary statement, an insider disclosed to TDN that this process is actually a formality and for ceremonial purposes as the former VC, Prof. Owan Enoh is still in charge as he still does all the signings and approvals. Our source who does not want to be quoted revealed this is likely to go on till Monday when the council is likely to appoint a real acting VC.

Ayade revokes Ingwu's appointment VC of CRUTECH, 7 names submitted for consideration

Based on his official position as the chairman, Committee of Deans, Prof. Nsing is currently the highest ranking officer of the university following the expiration of the VC's and his DVs' tenure in office, so naturally he is to assume the office of the VC and perform such official ceremonies pending when an Acting VC will be appointed and advert will be placed for the employment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the university. 

Finally Bar. Archibong emerges as Provost College of Edu. Akamkpa

Information reaching our newsroom has it that Dr. James Archibong has finally emerged as Provost of Cross River College of Education, Akampka.

According to the information, Dr. Archibong who is currently a lecturer in the Faculty of law, University of Calabar, Calabar is to resume his new appointment with immediate effect.

The college had earlier advertised its openings for the position of a provost where over 12 applicants who were qualified for the job emerged. Surprisingly Barr. Archibong finally got the job.

Also recall that TDN had last week in it's July, 23rd publication, informed that Dr. Frank Ayade, brother to the state governor, sen. Prof. Ben Ayade had concluded arrangement to ensure that Dr. Archibong emerges has the college Provost.  

 read more: Crisis looms as Frank Ayade insist on imposing new Provost on CRS college of Education

Ukorebi Esien blogs for TDN where he tells the Nigerian story, one article at a time.

Views are mine.

Unical Explain Delay In Issuing Certificates To Graduands

| 19 April 2018 | Correspondent 

The University of Calabar, Unical has explained that the delay in issuing certificates to graduands is due to the ongoing school fee payment verification exercise.

This is coming on the heels of complains by prospective National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members over delay in  issuing certificates.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Zana Akpagu who debunked the rumour that he was yet to sign the certificates explained that all the certificates have been signed but must undergo verification to ensure that fee evaders are not cleared for NYSC.

Prof. Akpagu maintained that the decision to verify the certificates was arrived at the last Governing Council meeting of the university after it was observed that only seventeen percent of the students have paid school fees.

He further said that, the university has observed that there is massive fee evasion by students hence, the compulsory screening to send only qualified students for service.

According to him "We have observed massive fee evasion. Certificates have been signed by VC but are being scrutinized by fee portal managers to ensure that only those who have paid are given certificates".

Assuring students to remain calm, he said that there was no cause for alarm as those who are not owing the University will be cleared for service.

He added that normally, certificates are issued during during convocation as NYSC only requires testimonials or statements of results.

"The exercise will eliminate the incidence of fake graduates and ensure that only bona fide graduates are awarded the University's degrees", he said.

Governor Ayade charges Corp members to support national unity

Corp members in CRS during POP

| 13 April 2018 | ESTHER OKOI

The Cross River State Governor, Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade has charged outgoing Corp Members in the State to make appraisals of societal challenges confronting the Nation and propel initiatives that would support Unity, Integration and National Development. 

The State Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development; and the Chairman, Cross River State NYSC Governing Board, Comrade Asu Okang, stated this during the Passing Out Parade (POP) Ceremony of the 2017 Batch ‘A’, Stream 1 Corp Members deployed to the State for their National Service, held at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

Governor Ayade enunciated that the National Youth Service Corps has proven itself to be an agent of National Development and Integration while also being a useful tool in the transference of knowledge of the different Government projects and programmes to the people of the State.

Lauding the contributions of Corp Members in their Places of Primary Assignment covering Education, Agriculture, Infrastructural Development and Education, Prof. Ben Ayade enumerated the laudable projects the Corp Members have been extensively involved in to include: the Sustainable Development Goals; HIV/AIDs Prevention and Advocacy; Entrepreneurship Development and Skills Acquisition programmes, among others.
The Governor also commended the State NYSC Governing Board, the Management of the Scheme in the State, Traditional Rulers, Security Agents and the Private sectors for contributing to the success of the2017 Batch ‘A’ Stream 1service year.

Speaking during her address, the State NYSC Coordinator, Lady Ambekemo Eniola described the Passing Out Parade Ceremony of the Corp Members as Special as the Scheme has not held a full-scale POP for some time. She informed that a number of One Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety One Corp Members are qualified to be issued their certificate of completion, enumerating that, 1 Corp Member bagged the State Governor’s Award; 2Corp Members had the Chairman, State NYSC Governing Board Award, 5 Corps Members have extension in their service year.

Lady Eniola appreciated the State Government for providing an enabling environment laced with peace and serenity for the scheme to perform effectively with the engagement of skilled graduates in various areas of the economy for the benefit of the State, adding that the State NYSC is at the disposal of the State Government and relevant agencies for effective contribution to the society. She admonished the Corp Members to be guided by the discipline acquired during their service year for the betterment of their lives and the society in general.

First Year female student of CRUTECH nabbed for stealing N3.5m from mistress

| 30 March 2018 | Correspondent 

A year one student of department of Mass Communication in Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) has been nabbed today by Some plain cloth police officers believed to be the Inspector General of Police (IG) special squad from Abuja for stealing N3.5M from her Abuja based mistress's shop. 

The student (name withheld for obvious reason), confessed to the Officers at the University Security Unit before being taken away by the approval of CRUTECH Authority. 

According to the culprit, she "was pushed by the devil to commit the crime" against her mistress /employer who recently supported her with money to burry her late mother. She added that she used part of the stolen money to buy clothes and was using her personal account to receive payments made on goods sold from her Mistress's shop in Abuja. 

Finding reveals that the student was tracked and arrested through her pictures and details downloaded from her Facebook page. 

Details later as we keep track on the story.

God Sent you to rescue us, Govt. Sec. Sch. Uwanse Appreciates Project REVAMP-Africa

|22 February 2018 | Ukorebi Esien

Staff and students of Government  Secondary School Uwanse, Calabar, Cross River State has shown great appreciation to the Visionary and Volunteers of Project REVAMP-Africa, in particular, Miss Ijioama Agwu of SS2 A1 said God sent the Project to their school to rescue them from all sort of vices that would had grounded them. Thedailynewsng can report.

Miss Agwu made this known while speaking with news men at the end of a four day life skills training sessions tagged Project Lead Initiative put together by REVAMP-AFRICA in partnership with Access bank at Government Secondary School Uwanse,  Calabar.

"I am giving him a very big kudos because if am being asked In fact I will say it was God that sent them because I have seen changes in our school since they came, we have been taught how to improve ourselves and become excellent citizens in future." Miss Agwu concluded. 

 Mr. Kelechi Anyalechi, the Visionary of the project said Project REVAMP-Africa is an Acronym for Restoring Educational Values and Maximising Potentials which seeks to assist young ones in public schools to add values to their lives. 

He further disclosed that  the project is an Educational, leadership and enterprise driven initiative which seeks to raise young people in public schools hinging it's driving force on four Cardinal points such as academic and moral excellent, improving reading  culture, developing personal leadership and financial intelligence. 

He said each day of the training have just been amazing with a lot of testimonials from both the students and staff.

Master Emmanuel James one of the senior students of the school said through the teachings he can now manage his time and with the help of his to-do list he achieves more task since he was taught Goal setting and time management. 

He went ahead to express gratitude to the organisers for visiting their school. 

Another student who spoke with newsmen, Master Samuel Monday of JSS 1B, said he now knows what goal setting is all and he is now ready to set his academic goals. 

Asked what he has to say to Project REVAMP-Africa,  master Joseph said he gives the organisers "a big thank you."

Earlier on the principal of the school Mr. Ilok Ukam Ekpei, had showered sincere praises and appreciation on Project REVAMP-Africa team  members for selecting his school among all the schools in Calabar as on of the schools to site it's projects, he disclosed that the school seriously needs intervention and prayed for a repeat visit by the organisers as well as other Organizations. 

A Lecturer with COE Akamkpa calls it quit, says Provost too weak to take critical decisions

|10th January, 2018|Ukorebi Esien

Comrade Anthony Bissong Attah, a Profound History lecturer with the Cross River State College of Education Akamkpa has called it quit with the College.  Thedailynews can authoritatively confirm.

Comrade Attah who tendered his resignation letter to the Registrar of the College on the 22nd day of December, 2107 said he was resigning because he could no longer 'work under hash intellectual firmament.'

In his letter, Comrade Bisong 

In a 3-paragraph document obtained by TDN and signed by Comr Attah, took out time to explain what he meant by 'Hash intellectual firmament.' while he stated the alleged weakness of the Provost of the institution in taking critical decisions that will advance the course of COE, as one of the reasons necessitating the termination of his services. 

The document reads in part : 'In recent times things have taken a downward turn in the College. A college that is meant to be a citadel of learning has dramatically nosedived into a theater of absurdities. Academic standards is at its lowest as result is now for the highest bidder. Corruption has assumed a new dimension in the College. 

'The desperation of the Acting Provost to remain in office despite exhausting his six months appointment in that capacity has made him weak in taking critical decisions that can move the college forward. His clear lack of capacity, focus, and clear handling of affairs has reduced the College to the status of a glorified secondary school. Little wonder why the current semester is spanning more than six months. 

'Worse still, our Union that should have stood as the last hope of the College is enmeshed in financial rascality and compromise. Those of us that dare to ask questions are constantly attacked, harangued, threatened and treated with impunity', he continued. 

According to Attah, owing to the future of Nigerian students his conscience is denied the 'luxury of intrusion' and thus constrained to resign his services with COE, Akamkpa. 

It would be recalled that there's a lopsided appointment last year at the college. Commissioner for Edu, Goddy Ettah, implicated in lopsided recruitment exercise in College of Edu, Akamkpa

The Letter reads in Full:

Comrade Abanda John Uket Elected President UNICAL, PGSG

Correspondent|1 November 2017


Comrade Abanda John Uket, 200 level Master of Arts in Philosophy student, Tuesday, was elected the president-elect of the University of Calabar Post-Graduate Students Government (UNICAL PGSG), in the just concluded bye-election NegroidHaven has garnered.

The results are as follows:
President
*Raymond Christian Ezikwa,146
*Abanda Uket, 148
Financial Secretary
*Ogar, Cletus Ejim 147
*Umoh, R. Emmanuel 141
Treasurer
*Nwagiobi, C. Nancy 129
*Abu, Caroline Ipeh 158
Director of Socials
*Arikpo, Peace Willie 167
*Attah, Cletus Akpo, 119

Recall that a five-man Post-Graduate Students Government Electoral Committee chaired by Comr Gregory Mbeh of Modern Languages Department was instituted on 17th October to conduct elections into three offices of President, Financial Secretary and Treasurer

Recall that comr. Bassey Williams who was sworn in as president barely two months ago was relief from office for alleged misappropriation of funds


However, the erstwhile Director of Socials, Mr Imeh Eyakene, resigned from his office of DoS to vie for president but was reportedly disqualified by the electoral committee on grounds of leading a protest during his undergraduate days.

Facebook Founder Zuckerberg wants Government to Dish out Free money to Citizens

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg have called on government to free money to everyone.


He made this call during during the 366th Commencement Exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., May 25, 2017.


The Facebook boss called on the need to consider universal basic income for Americans during his Harvard Commencement Speech.


Recall that Sam Altman, the president of venture capital firm Y Combinator, had some time last year made similar call when he said he thinks "everyone should have enough money to meet their basic needs—no matter what, especially if there are enough resources to make it possible. We don't yet know how it should look or how to pay for it, but basic income seems a promising way to do this."


 Altman believes basic income will be possible as technological advancements "generate an abundance of resources" that help decrease the cost of living.


Speaking on the need for government to carter for her citizen zuckerberg said:
"Every generation expands its definition of equality. Now it's time for our generation to define a new social contract," Zuckerberg said during his speech.


"We should have a society that measures progress not by economic metrics like GDP but by how many of us have a role we find meaningful. We should explore ideas like universal basic income to make sure everyone has a cushion to try new ideas."

Zuckerberg said that, because he knew he had a safety net if projects like Facebook had failed, he was confident enough to continue on without fear of failing.


Others, he said, such as children who need to support households instead of poking away on computers learning how to code, don't have the foundation Zuckerberg had. Universal basic income would provide that sort of cushion, Zuckerberg argued.


This news first appeared on www.CNBC.com

Ukorebi Esien
Blogs and Edits for TDN

Obol Lopon of Ugep Pays an Unscheduled Visit to CR-ITM

Obol Lopon of visits CR-ITM

|Victor Ndifon|16 May 2017|

 The 2nd most revered Traditional Ruler in Cross River State paid an auspicious visit to Cross River Institute of Technology and Management UGEP(small London) on Thursday May 11th 2017. It was indeed another opportunity for the First Class Traditional Ruler to lend his support and absolute commitment to the progress of the Institution.

The Obol Lopon stated once again that he would continue to court the attention of the Government of Cross River State under the able leadership of His Excellency Professor Senator Benedict Ayade, towards ensuring that the only Tertiary Institution in Yakurr stands the test of time.

He assured the Rector and his Staff that the issue of unpaid 8months salary arrears would soon be a thing of the past since he has received Government’s assurances in that regard.  He was well received by the Rector Professor Augustine Angba along with other top Management Staff.


The Rector thanked the Obol Lopon for paying the Institution this surprise but propitious visit. The Rector was adamant that this visit is a   sign that the challenges faced by the Institution would soon be a thing of the past. He thanked the Obol Lopon for his previous efforts in trying to ensure that the Institution survives and expressed the Institution’s resolve to fulfil its mandate despite the daunting challenges.

He told his Royal Highness that he feels happy and fulfilled that CR-ITM has been able to graduate her first batch of students with 43 of them cleared for their result which would soon be published online.

About seven of which, have already received their transcripts for admissions into Higher Degree programmes Nationally and Internationally. He also resolved that he and his Management with usual support of Government will ensure that the second batch of students graduate successfully.


The Rector led the Obol Lopon to a facility tour of the Institution accompanied by other top Management Staff.  He assured his Royal Majesty that as soon as the Signature Building is completed , furnished and equipped to run Engineering programmes , he and his Management team would do all that is humanly and technically possible to ensure that the Institution secures both Programme and Institutional accreditations .

 This will make Management efforts towards securing both Local and International Grant to the Institution more fruitful.

The Rector also brought to his Royal Highness knowledge, issues around the contravened properties within the Institution, land encroachment by adjourning communities and compensation which are very serious issues of concern to CRI-TM Management.

The Obol Lopon had first-hand glimpse of the magnitude of work done on the signature building and expressed optimism, that Government would ensure the completion of the project (Signature Building). The Obol Lopon was also very satisfied with the improvement in the quality of the environment and Staff commitment inspite of all odds.

Consequently, the hope for the growth of the Institution is once again rekindled by the commitment of one of the most eminent sons in the Yakurr nation. The Obol Lopon girdled with   unrivalled simplicity has shown again that the Traditional Institution in which he represents places premium on Education.  


Victor Ndifon is the Public Relations Officer /Official Spokesperson of CR-ITM UGEP