No fewer than 10 pupils across Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Benue states, were rewarded with various prizes for their outstanding performance in  the maiden edition of  TeensThink national essay competition.
The winners were announced at the grand finale of the competition, held in Lagos, last Monday, by a team of  independent jurors. the overall winner of the competition, Oche Ochefu of Methodist Boys High School, Victoria Island, Lagos, went home with a laptop, a trophy and N150,000, while first and second runners-up, Sunday Boluwatife and James Esther Nnena of Lishabi Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Ilesha Grammar School, Osun State got a laptop, trophy, N100,000 and N70,000 respectively.
They were also given educational games and books, among others.
Seven others were awarded cash prizes as they claimed the fourth to 10th positions.
Speaking at the event, founder of the TeensThink initiative, Kehinde Olesin, described the winners as worthy ambassadors of their families, schools and states.  According to her, the initiative is aimed at  preparing outstanding teens for remarkable success in learning and character.
“We are creating a global community of teens, who can personally and collaboratively spark up personal and social change locally and internationally. We are committed to empowering teenagers to reach their full potential, equipping them with relevant life-skills for success as they approach adulthood. We are also enhancing career and college preparation for these young leaders, through interactive and hands-on educational sessions,”she said.
Chairman of the occasion, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde lauded the winners for their impressive performance. He  described  them as future leaders who  have the potential to excel in whatever field of endeavour they find themselves.
“The winners have distinguished themselves for excellence through the level of their performance and we are very proud of them and the prospects that they hold for the advancement of the nation,” he said.
Ayorinde added that the initiative  would help improve the overall quality of education in the country and urged  schools  to make the most of the platform.
Chief Juror of the competition and Convener, Supportive Discipline for Dignity group, Mr Akin Benjamin, expressed his satisfaction at the quality of entries and performance from the winners.
“I am impressed with the quality of entries we received, it was an intense screening process as we  reviewed over 150 entries, from across states in Nigeria, Rivers, Taraba, Benue, Ogun and Osun.
“The winners are deserving of all the recognition and accolades. I am happy to be a part of this process. It is important that we reward and encourage outstanding talents and academic excellence from the teenage stage in order to build a creative, intelligent and productive youth population,” he said.