National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), has urged its members to take their studies serious in order to achieve excellence in their academics.

The  President of  the union, Comrade Godspower Chioma  Egbule, gave the charge while addressing students during an easy competition organised by NURSS in conjunction with Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Arm of Hope (AOH) Outreach Worldwide in Port Harcourt, recently.

Comrade Egbule explained that the essence of organising  the competition was to help students develop their investigative instincts and ensure  that they are abreast with critical  issues that affect  students security, welfare and interests.

He said that the topic of the essay competition,  “The Role of the Students Towards Nation Building”, was chosen considering the fact that   students, have a role to play in nation building particularly because the youths  occupy the strongest  and most populous segment of Nigeria’s population.

Comrade Egbule, who is also the Coordinator  of the competition, noted that, students must air their views  on critical issues that affect them at every point in time.

In his words: “I am happy that the students are Rivers indigenes and have done well.

“I encourage you to do more and keep the flag  flying and represent your schools and Rivers State  wherever you go”.

He appealed to government to organise debate, essay  and quiz competitions in tertiary  institutions since it is  geared towards  promoting academic  excellence while urging other NGOs and stakeholders in education to emulate Arm of Hope  (AOH) Outreach world wide.

Speaking to The Tide at end of the competition, a nursing  student of the College of Health, Science and Technology  (COHST), Miss Osisioma Bright, who emerged  1st, said she felt happy.

She noted that the opportunity served as a platform for her to show-case the talent God has given to her and advised other students to study  harder so as to have the same opportunity.

Also speaking to our correspondent, a Diploma in Law Student of the Rivers State College of Arts and Science (RIVCAS), Miss Glory Chinunam Amadi, who  emerged second best  said: “I have been able to tell people that I can do something no matter what happens”.

A 400 level Civil Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt, (UNIPORT), who grabbed the third position, Mr. Hart Kingston, thanked God for giving him the opportunity and encouraged other students to take their curriculum activities seriouly to show-case the talent they have, putting God first.

“All I will say is thank God Almighty because I don’t know how it came about” he prayed.

The three students were rewarded with cash donation of N100,000.00, N50,000.00 and N30,000.00 respectively for their outstanding performance.

Eunice Choko-Kayode