The 12th National Travel Essay Competition ( NTEC 2023) have come to an end with winners emerging Miss Merciful Nwafor of the University of Nigeria Nsuka (UNN) Enugu Campus winning in the tertiary institutions category while Miss Oyedeji Moyinoluwa of Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos won the secondary schools category.
Both winners emerged following a robust session of oral defense of their respective essays before a select group of Independent Assessors at the Grand Finale of NTEC 2023 which was held on May 27, 2023 at the Interguide Academy, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
The essay topics include: “Implications and Threats of Unruly Passengers To Safe And Secure Air Travel,†for the Secondary Schools; and “Curbing The Trafficking Of Illicit Drugs In Nigeria,†for Tertiary Institutions.
The Panel was chaired by the Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, joined by Prof. Effiom Uku of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET); Dr. Ifeanyi Ogochukwu, MD, Aviation Africa Plate-Forme and Mrs. Victoria Adegbe, MD, Aviatrix Hub.
Others are First Officer Paul Adebayo of United Nigeria Airlines; Mrs. Christie Oseghale, GM, Safety, SAHCO; and Mr. Godbless Ozegbe formerly of Nigeria Airways.
Founder and Coordinator of NTEC, Mr. Ewos Iroro said, “The topics for this year’s competition were carefully chosen following recent developments and repeat occurrences in the sector regarding incidences of unruly passengers and increased levels in trafficking of illicit drugs through the airports which pose serious safety and security threats to the aviation sector and the nation at large with untold implications.
Merciful Nwafor went home with a cash prize of N150,000 and a free ticket to South Africa sponsored by South African Airways (SAA). In the same vein, Oyedeji Moyinoluwa was rewarded with a cash prize of N100,000 and a free ticket for herself and a parent to Accra, Ghana sponsored by Africa World Airlines (AWA).
Oshimade Abisola of Abiolu College, Igando, Lagos came second with a cash prize of N60,000 while Ademigbaji Favour of Sunshine Diamond College, Ibadan emerged third with a cash prize of N40,000 in the secondary schools category.
Similarly, in the tertiary institutions category, Miss Daikpor Anthonia took 2nd place with a cash prize of N100,000 closely followed in 3rd place by Olatunji Deborah with a cash prize of N50,000. Both students were of the University of Lagos.
All the winners were also showered with various gift items courtesy of Peak Milk. Participants and guests at the event were equally all treated to a refreshingly cold beverage of Peak milk as the events of the day unfolded.
Other sponsors of the epoch-making event include SAHCO, Sabre West Africa, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and OCP International.
