Port Harcourt Centre applauded over DES 303 projects

By Joel Nkanta
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(L-R) The overall winner, Jessica Kingsley-Atsomeh, receiving her prize from Dr. Theresa Ettu, while the visionary of the contest, Mr. Chidi Nwaeze, looks on

The Coordinator, Community Development Projects, a non-examinable compulsory course also referred to as DES 303, at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Dr. William Emina, has applauded the management of Port Harcourt Study Centre for the quality projects carried out by students on the course.

Emina gave the applause in his opening remarks, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, during the DES 303 Mathematics Quiz Competition organised by a group of students at Port Harcourt Study Centre and led by Mr. Chidi Nwaeze, a final year student of Computer Science on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

“I commend the Centre Director, Dr. Theresa Ettu, and all DES 303 students at Port Harcourt Study Centre, for the quality projects they embark upon on the course. I am especially very excited about this Mathematics Quiz Competition. The quality projects carried out by students of Port Harcourt Study Centre are exactly what the DES 303 course was meant to be,” he said.

Emina urged the students to keep up their good works while urging the competing schools to take advantage of the contest to improve their Mathematical skills.

Ettu, on her part, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for creating the platform for such lofty projects by including DES 303 in the curriculum of the university.

She saluted the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, “for being very supportive of all academic matters of our students,” and “the hardworking Coordinator of DES 303, Dr. William Emina, for always following up our activities with appreciable encouragements.

“Let me also greet Mr. Chidi Nwaeze specially for birthing the idea of the Maths Quiz Competition for his group. It’s pertinent to mention that the idea of doing Maths Quiz competition didn’t come to him from the blues.

He was one the winners of the highly renowned Cowbell Mathematics Competition of his time. He received an honour that time and has always utilized any opportunity he has to give it back to the society,” she said.

Ettu corroborated with Emina that the main thrust of the DES 303 course was for the students to heed the charge of the Vice-Chancellor to influence their communities by making voluntary tangible contributions, adding that at Port Harcourt Centre, the programme is taken very seriously.

winners

She commended the duo of Mr. Bright Iwu and Mrs, Atamunonengiya Woruhuche, desk officers of DES 303 at the centre, for being “the right pegs in the right holes.”

She reminded that several lofty projects, such as visitations to inmates of the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt Children’s Centre, and Old People’s Home, have been carried out.

Other projects carried out by students of the centre were health pep talks to government workers, Career Education at secondary schools, painting of some portions of the Port Harcourt Study Centre fence, as well as other upcoming projects. 

Eight schools across Obio Akpor Local Government Area participated in the Mathematics Quiz Competition. These were Government Girls Secondary School, Rumeme; Vivi Landmark Comprehensive International School, Mini Orlu, Ada George Road; Community Secondary School, Rumuepirikom, and Our Lady of Lourdes Secondary School, Ozuoba.

Others were Community Secondary School, Rumuopara; Homik Oil and Gas Engineering Facility School, Community Secondary School, Rumuolumeni, and Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Rumukwurushi.

Miss Jessica Kingsley-Atsomeh of Homik Oil and Gas Engineering Facility School emerged the overall winner of the competition with 93% and went home with One Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira, while her teacher took home Twenty Thousand naira.

Master Ibifubara Obrasua Asikia of Community Secondary School, Rumukpirikom, clinched second position with a score of 83% and walked home with One Hundred Thousand naira, while his teacher was also given Twenty Thousand naira.

The third position winner, Miss Emesiobi Anwuri of Vivi Landmark Comprehensive International School, who scored 80% went home with Fifty Thousand naira and her teacher received Twenty Thousand naira.

Whereas monetary awards were meant for first, second and third winners only, the fourth position winner, Master Destiny John Naaii, was nonetheless also appreciated with the sum of Twenty Thousand naira for scoring 77%.

All teachers present other than the teachers of the first, second and third position winners, received Ten Thousand naira each, while all students in attendance were given consolation prizes of branded Mathematical Sets and exercise books, while the DES 303 Team had scheduled a visit to each of the winning schools on Thursday, October 9, 2025, to present commendation plagues to them. 

All attendees were also treated to sumptuous refreshment.

 

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