By Foday Moriba Conteh
Cowbell, a popular brand under Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd, an agent of Promasidor, one of Africa’s leading food product giants, wrapped up the preliminary stage of its second annual Cowbell Kapu Sens Inter-School Quiz Competition on Friday, November 8, 2024. Themed: “Nurturing the Spirit of Patriotism Through Civic Education,” the competition drew 32 schools from the Western Area’s rural and urban regions, gathering at St. Edwards Secondary School in Kingtom, Freetown.
Participating schools were divided into four groups: Cowbell, Twisco, Miksi and Yumvita, each containing eight schools. Following an intense preliminary round, 16 schools emerged as qualifiers for the next stage, set for November 15th and 16th at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Fourah Bay College Campus. The advancing schools include prominent institutions such as Albert Academy, Methodist Girls High School, St. Edwards, Rokel, Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood, Government Model School and Bishop Johnson Memorial School etc.
Speaking at the event, Kenneth Konuah, Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Ltd., emphasized the company’s dedication to national development by instilling a sense of civic responsibility in the nation’s youth. “We believe our contribution to national development is to encourage youth to take an active role in their communities rather than just relying on government support,” Kenneth Konuah said.
He expressed hope that the competition would serve as a foundation for young people to engage meaningfully in the nation-building process, adding, “National development is a shared responsibility and it should be inclusive of everyone, especially the youth who are the future leaders.”
This year’s competition, which saw an expansion in prize offerings, will award Le 20,000 to the winning school, with Le 15,000 for second place and Le 10,000 for third as well as all participating schools will also receive Cowbell products and certificate of participation.
Kenneth Konuah stressed the importance of this initiative in fostering a collective drive toward Sierra Leone’s growth, advocating that national progress is a collaborative effort.
Beyond the competition, Kenneth Konuah highlighted Cowbell’s commitment to nutrition, noting that Cowbell milk is fortified with essential nutrients including protein, calcium and Vitamins A, B9, C, D, E, and K, or “Vitarich.” He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to support Cowbell products, emphasizing their role in promoting growth and vitality.
The competition’s rounds 16 and the final will take place on November 15th and 16th at the Multi-Purpose Hall at Fourah Bay College Campus, where the remaining schools will continue to demonstrate their commitment to civic responsibility.
Emily Gogra, Deputy Minister One of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), praised the ongoing Cowbell Kapu Sens Inter-Secondary Schools Competition, describing it as a vital initiative that supports the national drive for civic education in schools.
She highlighted the alignment of the event with President Bio’s vision to integrate civic education across all schools in Sierra Leone.
Expressing her delight in partnering with Premium Divine Trading Limited, Emily Gogra noted the competition’s impact on reinforcing civic knowledge among pupils. “This competition, which covers questions on civic education, is a refresher for pupils, reinforcing lessons learned in the classroom and encouraging a healthy spirit of patriotism,” she stated.
She emphasized that such initiatives help pupils demonstrate ethical values such as friendship, effective communication and healthy competition, as well as reinforce lessons on national identity and civic-mindedness, which are central to MBSSE’s curriculum goals.
The event, which brought together 32 schools from Western Urban and Rural areas, marks the second time Premium Divine has hosted this competition. Emily Gogra expressed hope that the competition will be extended to districts across the country, enabling more pupils to participate and showcase their civic understanding.
Reflecting on her own school days, she applauded the enthusiasm displayed by the pupils and encouraged them to support one another, emphasizing that while only one school will win, all participants represent their schools, families and country.
“My takeaway message is that civic-mindedness is essential and this competition offers an avenue for pupils to demonstrate patriotism and community spirit,” she said, advocating for continued support from partners to expand the program nationwide.
Ansumana Keita, the Chief Patriot of the Patriotic Advocacy Network and quiz master for the competition, expressed his appreciation to Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd for organizing the Cowbell Kapu Sens Inter-Secondary School Competition. He described the event as crucial for fostering a deeper understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship among students.
Ansumana Keita highlighted the pressing issue of low patriotism, particularly among young people, which he believes is hindering national development. He noted that the competition’s focus on questions related to patriotism was designed to equip participants with critical thinking skills needed to address the challenges of the modern world.
He congratulated the students who advanced to the round of 16 and encouraged all participants to share their newly gained insights on patriotism with others, promoting a greater sense of civic responsibility.
Commenting on the schools advancing to the Round of 16 in the Cowbell Kapu Sens Inter-School Competition, Kelvin S. Kargbo, one of the quiz coaches for Albert Academy, expressed confidence in his team’s progress. “It’s no surprise that we qualified for the next round. We came prepared, learning from our performance in last year’s inaugural competition where we secured the fourth place,” he said.
He also shared that Albert Academy’s team had dedicated significant time to preparing for this year’s contest, working through various topics in civic education and general knowledge. “Our goal is to go beyond last year’s results and make it to the finals. This competition not only encourages academic excellence but also instills a strong sense of patriotism and civic responsibility in our students, which motivates them to excel even further,” he added.
He concluded by stating that the Albert Academy will join other top-ranking schools in the upcoming Round 16, scheduled to take place on November 15 and 16, 2024, at the Multi-Purpose Hall on Fourah Bay College Campus and that he is very sure that the Albert Academy will emerge as the winner.
