After initially losing their Regional Qualifier contest in February 2020, Zabzugu SHS were selected by Primetime Ltd., organisers of the NSMQ, to take up one of two vacant slots after all the Regional Qualifiers competitions, giving them a second chance at the Preliminary Stage.

As top runner-up from the regional qualifiers, Zabzugu SHS earned their slot in the One-eighth Stage by kicking out Anbariya SHS from the Northern Region and Gowrie SHTS from the Upper East Region, on Day One of the Northern Zone Preliminary Stage.
Zabzugu SHS showed much promise leading Round One with 14 points, as well as dominating Round Two with 19 points. Gowrie SHTS was able to maintain their initial five points in Round Two, however, Anbariya SHS lost two points at the end of the second round and started Round Three with just three points.

With all the three scoring zero in the Problem of the Day, none of them was able to win the Prudential Life NSMQ Star, worth GH¢2000.00 at the Preliminary Stage.

In Round Four, the other contestants bounced back to life, but with Zabzugu still leading the charge to victory. Round Five saw Zabzugu SHS answering three out of four riddles correctly, winning the GOIL Riddle Bonanza worth a total cash prize of GH¢800.00, to be shared equally among the three contestants and their teacher.
Here’s a breakdown of Contest One of the Northern Zone Regional Preliminary stage.
Round One – General questions on Chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics
Zabzugu SHS – 14
Anbariya SHS – 5
Gowrie SHTS – 5

Round Two – The Speed race
Zabzugu SHS – 19
Gowrie SHTS – 5
Anbariya SHS – 3
Round Three – Problem of the Day
Zabzugu SHS – 19
Gowrie SHTS – 5
Anbariya SHS – 3

Round Four – True or False
Zabzugu SHS – 29
Gowrie SHTS – 15
Anbariya SHS – 13
Round Five – Riddles
Zabzugu SHS – 38
Gowrie SHTS – 15
Anbariya SHS – 13
The National Science & Maths Quiz and Science Festival is sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in partnership with Absa Bank Ghana Limited and supported by Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance, Goil, Airtel Tigo, Dano Milk, Academic City, Accra College of Medicine, Academic City, Central University, GTP, Adansi Travels, Medifem Multi-specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre, Third Eyecare Vision Centre and YFM.
The NSMQ is proudly produced by Primetime.