AKHA Staff Make History as Administrative Department Wins Maiden Anniversary Quiz, Bags ₦200,000 Prize

 

By Asuquo Edem 

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has recorded another milestone in its efforts to promote staff development and institutional excellence with the successful staging of its first-ever inter-departmental quiz competition, an intellectual contest that climaxed with the Administrative and Welfare Department emerging overall champion clinching home N200,000 during activities marking the third anniversary of the 8th Assembly.

This introduction sets the scene first before revealing the winner in the body of the story, making the report flow more naturally. If you prefer a harder news style, I can also make it more punchy and newspaper-like.

The competition, organised by the Office of the Clerk under the theme, "The 8th Assembly @ 3: Stewardship, Service and Legislative Impact," took place on Wednesday at the Chapel Hall of the Assembly Complex, drawing participants from six departments in what organisers described as the first intellectual contest of its kind in the history of the Assembly's Legislative Week celebrations.

Declaring the competition open, Chairman of the Planning Committee for the Third Anniversary Celebration and Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Nsidibe Akata, said the initiative was conceived to celebrate not only the legislative accomplishments of the 8th Assembly but also the dedication, professionalism and invaluable contributions of staff of the House of Assembly and the House of Assembly Service Commission.

Akata described the quiz as a landmark innovation aimed at promoting knowledge, encouraging healthy competition, fostering fellowship and strengthening a culture of continuous learning and excellence within the Assembly workforce.

He expressed confidence that the competition would become a permanent feature of future Legislative Week celebrations and urged participants to compete with fairness, respect and sportsmanship.

The Planning Committee Chairman also acknowledged the support of Governor Pastor Umo Eno and commended the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elder Udeme Otong, for providing the confidence and backing that made the anniversary activities possible.

In her welcome address, the Clerk of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mrs. Nsikak-Abasi N. Orok, described the event as more than a test of knowledge, saying it was designed to encourage continuous learning, strengthen teamwork and promote healthy intellectual engagement among staff.

She noted that knowledge remains one of the institution's greatest assets in delivering efficient legislative support services, stressing that the competition aligns with Governor Umo Eno's ARISE Agenda, particularly its emphasis on education, human capital development, capacity building and institutional excellence.

According to the Clerk, investing in the intellectual growth of staff would contribute significantly to building a more productive, efficient and people-oriented public service.

She commended the Quiz Competition Coordinating Committee for successfully organising the event and urged participants to see the experience and knowledge gained as rewards that would outlive the monetary prizes.

Mrs. Orok further applauded Speaker Udeme Otong for his unwavering commitment to staff welfare and development, while expressing gratitude to Governor Umo Eno for his visionary leadership and sustained support for institutional growth and public service reforms in Akwa Ibom State.

The keenly contested competition featured six departments: Administrative and Welfare; Budget, Finance and Supplies; Publication and Information; Planning, Research and Statistics; Legislative; and Legal Services.

After three rounds of intense competition, the Administrative and Welfare Department emerged overall winner to claim the ₦200,000 grand prize.

The Legislative Department finished as first runner-up to receive ₦150,000, while the Budget, Finance and Supplies Department secured third place and won ₦100,000 after edging out the Publication and Information Department in a dramatic tie-breaker. Both departments had ended the final round on nine points before the Budget and Finance Department prevailed through a bonus question.

Consolation prizes of ₦50,000 were also presented to the remai

ning participating departments.