According to Peter Obi, the accomplishments of 12-year-old Shokunbi and 15-year-old Akiogbe demonstrated the potential of Nigerian adolescents and what they could accomplish with the correct government assistance.
David Akiogbe achieved a remarkable score of 1580 on his Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), while Eniola Shokunbi received $11.5 million from the Connecticut government for creating an air filter that would lessen the spread of airborne diseases in schools.
In his statement on Monday, Obi said, “I have consistently maintained my conviction that Nigerian youths have boundless potential and will continue to shine on the international scene with the proper leadership support.”
“I read the amazing stories of two Nigerian children who are now making waves both inside and outside of Nigeria just today (Monday), and as part of my regular custom of recognizing and supporting young, extraordinary individuals, I can’t help but share their stories.
The first is Eniola Shokunbi, a 12-year-old Nigerian girl from Connecticut, USA, who was granted $11.5 million by the Connecticut State Bond Commission to build an air filter that would lessen the transmission of airborne illnesses in schools.
Next up is David Akiogbe, a 15-year-old Nigerian child who, according to MIT, achieved an outstanding top score of 1580 on the Scholastic Assessment Test, or SAT, and is poised to use his scholastic achievements to succeed internationally.
He urged the government to help young Nigerians with their education and growth. Obi underlined the importance of tackling the nation’s high rate of out-of-school children, which impacts a large number of kids.
“The motivational tales of these young Nigerians stand in for the potential of millions of Nigerian kids whose gifts go unrealized, many of them are among the more than 20 million unschooled kids living on the streets as a result of our callous leadership.
“We now need to concentrate on making educational investments in their future.
“I have said time and time again that I will always support education nationwide because I firmly believe that if we invest in our young people, they will be able to discover their talents, grow as individuals, and make valuable contributions to the advancement of our country while also performing exceptionally well internationally.
Obi went on to say, “I commend young Eniola Shokunbi and David Akiogbe for attaining the international recognition that has honored the country and now serves as an inspiration to other youths.”
