This year’s 2024 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship (MOSWC) is scheduled to take place in Disneyland Ahaheim, California,in the United States of America.
The competition is designed to test students capabilities in the use of Microsoft, between July 28tg and 31st 2024. This unique event would attract students from over 150 countries globally.
Six Nigerian Students drawn from various Secondary schools would represent Nigeria at this year 2024 event.
The six Nigerian Students were picked after emerging as winners of the 2024 MOS Nigeria Competition conducted by ReadManna between October 1,2023,and March 31st 2024.
Speaking on the competition,Chief Executive Officer of ReadManna Empowerment Initiative (REI),Mrs Edna Augusto,said Nigeria has come second and third in the World Championship in the past 15 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 and it challenges students to demonstrate their proficiency in in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
According to Augusto,these Microsoft 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 said that winners of the 2024 Microsoft Specialist in Nigeria and their information and Communication Technology(ICT) teachers will be representing the country at the World Championship in America.
Details of the students are: Olamiposi Ayoola Ajisafe is an Excel 2019 winner from Faith Academy,Gowon Estate,Lagos,who scored,1,000/1,000 at the competition; Gambari Rume,a Word 2019 winner,from Grace High School,Gbagada,Lagos State,who scored 1,000/1,000; and Daniel Uzugbo,a PowerPoint 2019 winner from Faith Academy Canaanland,It’s,Ogun State,who scored 1,000/1,000.
Others include Bolarinwa Fabuyi,an Excel 365 winner from City of Knowledge Academy,Ijebu-Ode,Ogun State,who scored 880/1,000; Arigbabu Oluwadamisola,a Word Office 365 winner from Faith Academy, Canaanland,It’s,Ogun State,who scored 1,000/1,000,and Excel Chukwuemeka,a PowerPoint Office 365 winner from Faith Academy, Canaanland,Ota-Ogun State,who scored 1,000/1,000.
The students will be accompanied by two ICT teachers-Mr Stephen Aimufua,from Faith Academy, Ota-Ogun State,who is the ICT teacher of the student with the highest score in the 2023 MOS Nigeria Competition,and Mr Omotayo Adeniyi,of Louisville Girls High School,Ijebu -Itele,Ogun State,the ICT teacher of the school with the largest number of certified students in the 2024 Junior ReadManna under 13 Computing Fundamentals National Competition.
Augusto 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 user 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.
According to her,entries were received from Secondary schools in Lagos,Ogun,OYO, Akwa Ibom,Kwara States,the Federal Capital Territory ((FCT)and three Universities viz: Covenant University,Ota, Adeleke University,Ede,Osun State,and Top Faith University,Uyo,Akwa-Ibom State.
She said that,126 students,comprising 68 boys and 58 girls were eventually shortlisted at the National Competition held in Uyo, Ikorodu, Ijebu-OdeAbuja and Gbagada.
According to Agusto,the competition is opened to all students between ages 13 and 22,who are enrolled in an academic institutions.
Agusto 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 competition and conferences..
(Guardian)