A literary critic once averred that “if a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world and stands the danger of being exterminated. Woodson’s polemics teases out an urgent indication that peoples and groups need to affirm their history in order to remain relevant in the world. This is why at EMGSS, telling our own success story, our giant strides in essay competitions is like

singing our own song and telling our own history.
Our journey started in 2015 with the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations Essay Competition with the topic; “Mobile Phones: Necessity or Nuisance in Public Relations”. In this competition, Edgerley student, Favour Gregory Bassey, among numerous students from other schools in Calabar and beyond came first, writing about 640 words in 18 minutes and scoring 99%. In the same 2015, EMGSS participated in the Annual Professor Bassey Andah Memorial Essay Competition on the topic; “The Advantages of Sports to Youths in My Community”. More than 50 schools with more than 700 students participated. Among these, EMGSS students, Favour Bassey Gregory and Oko Grace Ajuka came second and third in the senior category, and received

cash donations from the Bassey Andah Foundation (BAF) to support their education. Lastly in 2015, Oko Grace Ajuka participated in the UBA National Essay Competition on the topic; “What Matters Most to me in Life and Why”. With more than 4000 essay entries received nationwide, her essay was listed among the 12 Best essays.
As winnings continue to overwhelm, students were not complacent. Rather, these victories were like propellers to face more challenges and to do more, knowing very well that competitors were reinforcing to subdue. The victories bestowed a psychic state of confidence and hard work on the students. The popular saying among the students became; “we are the essay writers”. This state of mind has indeed continued to spur more excellent performance among the students in essay writing.

In 2016, our success story in essay competition continued relentlessly. EMGSS was represented in a highly contested essay competition on the topic; “The Future of Nigeria: My Dream” organised by Impact in Leadership, an NGO saddled with the motive of exhuming the best leadership qualities in young people. Held at the prestigious Transcorp Hotels, Calabar, the competition received more than 800 entries. Again, our own Oko Grace Ajuka came third while Blessed James John came sixth. Still in 2016, EMGSS participated in the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Essay Competition on the topic; “Building Core Family Values through the Tools of Public Relations”. Again, EMGSS, represented by Ukpong Maria Okon came first. By this, EMGSS became the first school to win the NIPR most coveted trophy back to back. In her address to convocation in 2016, EMGSS Principal stated:

“In essay competitions, the school has remained indomitable. It is the first school to win back-to-back the most coveted Gold Trophy in the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Essay Competition”, she commented.
Indeed, EMGSS has lived to the reality of the above declaration. In 2017, and for the third consecutive time, EMGSS participated in the NIPR Essay Competition on the topic; “Moral Standard and Citizenship – The Nigerian Student as the Future of the Nation”. This time, EMGSS continued to give glory to God as her student, Favour Esin Otu came second. 2017 also witnessed another victory in essay competition. Our very own, Bassey Agnes Ekpo was listed among the 12 finalists nationwide with the best essay on the topic; “Choose a Popular Application or Technology, write an Instructional Manual to your Grandparents on how to use it and how to make the most value out of it” in the United Bank of Africa National Essay

Competition. Last but not the least, at the wake of the New Year, EMGSS was warmly embraced into the year by success in essay competition. Our inestimable twin, Beauty Offiong Henshaw and Angel Offiong Henshaw came first and third in the 2017 Professor Bassey Andah Essay Competition Junior Category on the topic, “Nigeria of the Future and what it Holds for the Youth”

EMGSS has equally participated in other essay competitions like the Goi Peace/UNESCO Essay Competition in Tokyo, Japan and the Gulen Institute Youth Platform Essay in the USA in 2016. Indeed, our strides in essay competitions have been our pride and a remarkable feature of our academic life especially in this era when students find it difficult to express themselves vividly in written expressions. In EMGSS, we train students intensively in creative writing. Students are properly guided by qualified professionals on how to translate ideas and concepts into written formats that will be read and understood. Our Press Club and Debating Society are equally platforms to boost and develop students’ potentials in acquiring proficiency in relevant language skills necessary to take up effective and successful leadership roles in the society.