The first edition of the Smart Youth Competition was held on the 17th of October, 2020 at Peace Park, opposite Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. It was the first of its kind in the state where youths from all over would gather to compete in the different categories.
The first edition of the Smart Youth Competition had 3 categories: Intellectual, Skill and Cooking. There were about 35 participants in total with intellectual having the highest number of participants. As this was the first time, we were quite encouraged at the number of participants.
The competition held at the open space of Peace Park, had the participants seated at different sections where they did the things they were supposed to do.
We started at full swing in 11:00am with an opening prayer and the address by the chairman of the occasion. The different categories of the competition were outlined and the criteria for each of them. The reading participants were required to read Redeeming Love by Francis Rivers and Gifted Hands by Ben Carson answering questions that were set at the judges’ discretion.
The cooking participants were instructed to make Vegetable Soup and Rice & Vegetable Sauce. The skills participants were required to show us their skills which ranged from sewing, slippers making, fascinator making, drawing and so on. Halfway through the competition, two dramas were given by St John’s Anglican Church, Obogoro (Drama team) and St Luke’s Anglican Church, Agudama Epie Across (Drama Team). We also heard the word by Evang. Kingsley Osuala.
Everywhere was tense when the competition was over as the results were called out, with winner=s emerging in the different categories.
| COOKING | 1st Position | Markson Isaac Enaanobighadio | Refrigerator |
| 2nd position | Nimizuoa Tubuokumo | Oven | |
| 3rd position | Evelyn Amamieyefa Ikuromo | Gas cylinder and Gas cooker | |
| INTELLECTUAL | 1st Position | Joy Daniel | Laptop |
| 2nd Position | Justina Alagoa Warinpagamo | Laptop | |
| 3rd Position | Racheal A. Ekanem | Android phone | |
| CREATIVITY (SKILL) | 1st Position | Martha Odigiri Ebikoboere (Sewing) | Generator |
| 2nd position | Faith Odoemna(Fascinator) | Generator | |
| 3rd Position | Joseph Subi Mera (Slippers) | Plasma TV |
Other than the prizes listed above, other prizes were given to some outstanding participants: Sewing Machine was given to Emmanuel Samuel Ubu for his skill in sewing and cash of N50, 000 was given to Etomchukwu Uwaezuoke for making an inverter.
There was joy in the atmosphere for the winners and a sense of loss for those that could not make it but all in all it was a very beautiful day, thanks to God and as many that contributed to the program in one way or another.
