Riding on the success of the second edition which climaxed last December, PZ Cussons Nigeria has promised more excitement for participants and other stakeholders in the third edition of the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC).

PZ Cussons Nigeria, which organises the competition through its corporate social responsibility arm, PZ Cussons Foundation, further reiterated its commitment to nurture the winners in industrial chemistry by recently taking them on a facility tour of the company’s Lagos factories at Ilupeju and Ikorodu.

The four finalists of the PZCCC 2014 on the tour were Justin Ifeanyi Nwaoha of ISOLOG College, Ojodu, the ultimate winner; Jamiu Abayomi Animashaun of Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba (first runner-up); Azeez Balogun of Kingston High School (second runner-up) and third runner-up Jeremiah Onu of FESTAC Senior College. The students were accompanied on the tour by their respective chemistry teachers – Mayowa Adeoti, Mrs Ann Ajisafe, Obiora Onyilagha and Oluwaleke Animashaun.

Christos Giannopoulous, the Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria, alongside the Company Secretary, Rotimi Alade, welcomed the students and their teachers, congratulating them on their emergence as finalists of the rigorous competition.

Giannopoulous said: “I welcome you all here today and congratulate you on your success at the just-concluded chemistry challenge. The company is focused on chemistry because of its importance to the society. I particularly salute your courage and enthusiasm to study chemistry and I hope in the nearest future you will be working in the corridors of this organisation and making an impact.”

The group was received at the PZ Cussons Group training centre by Pieter Stroek, Head of Research, Development and Innovation, who took them around the laboratories. Stanley Eluwa, Head, Talent Management, expressed his readiness to train the four finalists when they eventually embark on their internship with the company, as part of their winning package.

At the Ikorodu factory, Bamidele Salimonu, Site Risk Manager, took the group on basic safety precautions and emergency procedures of the organisation.

Reacting to the success of the facility tour, Ifeanyi Nwaoha, who hopes to become a medical doctor, said: “I want to thank PZ Cussons. I hope the competition will become a national event and I want to use this medium to encourage other students to study chemistry and other science subjects.”

Jamiu Animashaun said: “I really enjoy the experience; the factories, the machines and the way they work has really taken my breath away. This tour of PZ Cussons’ facility has enlightened me and with this I hope to study Mathematics at the university.”

As for Azeez Balogun, he had this to say: “I am very delighted with the experience of this facility tour and it has further strengthened my goal at making a career in chemical engineering.”

On his part, Onu Jeremiah simply thanked PZ Cussons Foundation for what he called a great initiative. He said he hoped that what he learnt during the facility tour would further bolster his knowledge of practical chemistry and help him gain admission into the university to study petroleum engineering.

PZ Cussons Foundation focuses on education, health and provision of portable water. It has extended its interventions into constructing and donating blocks of classrooms, boreholes, health and youth centres as well as road rehabilitation.

•Photo shows Christos Giannopoulous, Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria (middle) with (from left) Jeremiah Onu (third runner-up), Azeez Balogun (second runner-up); Jamiu Abayomi Animashaun (first runner-up) and Justin Ifeanyi Nwaoha (winner), all finalists of the 2014 PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge, during the courtesy visit to PZ Cussons Nigeria.