Six students to represent Nigeria at Microsoft World Championship in U.S.

The competition, which is designed to test students’ capabilities in the use of Microsoft, would take place between July 30 and August 2 and is a yearly event that attracts students from over 150 countries.

The six students were selected to represent Nigeria after emerging as winners of the 2023 MOS Nigeria Competition conducted by ReadManna between October 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

Speaking on the competition, Chief Executive Officer of ReadManna Empowerment Initiative, Edna Agusto, said Nigeria has come 2nd and 3rd in the World Championship in the past 14 years and had finished in the top 10 places nearly every year.

Agusto said the Nigerian version of the championship is sponsored yearly by Zenith Bank, Agusto Consulting Limited and Airtel Plc., and it challenges students to demonstrate their proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

According to Agusto, these Microsoft Office Specialist programmes are the most commonly used productivity tools by businesses worldwide and the official MOS certification programme assesses and demonstrates proficiency in these programmes.

She disclosed that winners of the 2023 Microsoft Office Specialist in Nigeria and their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teachers would be representing Nigeria at the World Championship in America.

Giving the details of the students, Agusto said Fenna Nwokeji is an Excel 2019 winner from Aduvie International School, Abuja, who scored 1,000/1,000 at the competition; Victor Omoyajowo, a Word 2019 winner is from Faith Academy, Canaanland, Ota in Ogun State and scored 976/1,000; Adesuwa Igbinedion, a PowerPoint 2019 winner is from Faith Academy, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, scored 1,000/1,000.

Others are Daniel Uzugbo, an Excel 2016 winner from Faith Academy, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State scored 980/1,000; Aderinsola Adeegbe, a Word 2016 winner from Faith Academy, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, scored 1,000/1,000; Bolurinwa Fabuyi, a PowerPoint 2016 winner, from City of Knowledge Academy, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, scored 925/1,000.

Agusto disclosed that through the MOS certification, users would become proficient in the use of Microsoft Office programmes, thereby improving their chances of becoming gainfully employed in today’s digital world.

“It is globally recognised and gives certified users the opportunity to apply for jobs anywhere in the World. MOS certification also provides a solid foundation for advanced ICT training and certified users will be able to pursue training in advanced computer technologies,” she said.

She added that ReadManna Empowerment Initiative, a non- governmental organisation, drives current, practical and relevant digital literacy skills aligned to global standards among students, youths and teachers in Nigeria through competitions and conferences. The MOSWC competition scheduled for July 30 to August 2, 2023, is a yearly event contested by students from over 150 countries.