Wale Jagun with Bolu Orebajo & Ayoola (SIWEST Students)
-As Lagos First lady, Senator Abiru, others commend initiative
Elepe Community Senior High School, Elepe in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has emerged winner of the 2024 Inter – School Debate Competition in lkorodu division.
The school defeated Government College, Ikorodu and Ipakodo Senior Grammar School, Ipakodo, which emerged first and second runners-up, respectively, at the grand finale of the competition which started three weeks ago with 16 schools participating across the Ikorodu Division.
The winning school, represented by Miss Onah Grace and Master Oduwole Temiloluwa, received the star prize of N500, 000 and a laptop for its performance at the event attended by the Lagos Firs Lady, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the LASUSTECH Cooperative Event Centre, Lagos State University Of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
Other eminent dignitaries at the debate organized by KAODWAD and Associates in conjunction with the Ikorodu Local Government, were Hon . Wasiu Ayodeji Adeshina, Executive Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, HRM Oba (Engr.) Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Hon Gbolahan Adetokunbo Ogunleye, member LAHA, lkorodu Constituency 1, Member LAHA, Basorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr. Kazeem Adeyinka, Executive Director, KAODWAD and Associates among others.
Government Senior Model College, lkorodu, represented by Adekoya Farida Ogooluwa and Olutoki Oyinkansola Grace, were presented with N300, 000 and a laptop, while Ipakodo Senior Grammar School, Ipakodo, represented by Kelvin Emmanuella and Fadiyi Adedeji, came third and received N200, 000 and a laptop.
Mr Kazeem Adeyinka, Executive Director KAODWAD and Associates, the initiator of the debate, said that his group has been in the business of supporting education for many years, providing free GCE forms and training for students.
Adeyinka, who said that the focus of his group is youth education and development, added that the group partnered Ikorodu LG, when it decided to organise the debate competition so as to get the government involved in what they are doing.
“Our primary responsibility is all about youth education and development. We want to pay attention to our youths, because we can’t leave everything to government. Youths will not be able to achieve most of the works that they are supposed to if only the government is left to do it all.
“We believe in the youths and we believe in the education of the youths. In Lagos State, you cannot just do things anyhow. There are rules and standards and before we started this program, we went through some processes”, he said.
He revealed the intention of the group to also start the debate for the primary school category.
“We have decided to organise the same debate competition for our primary schools, because of popular demand. We want to start with Ikorodu division. We want to test run with Ikorodu division and at the same time, we want to look at the junior secondary schools in the division”, he said.
He commended the Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, for accepting and supporting the initiative and also, the Senator representing Lagos East, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Hon. Babajimi Benson, member, House of Representatives, and member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Gbolahan Ogunleye, for their immense supports,particularly regarding prizes for the schools, and general success of the competition.
Adeyinka, who also said that similar competition would also be organized for the primary school because of demands, also thanked the Tutor – General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, Mrs Anike Adekanye, for making the competition a reality.
Hon . Wasiu Ayodeji Adeshina, Chairman Ikorodu Local Government, in his address, said that the debate was a celebration of students’ brilliance. He added that his administration is concerned about educational development because of its impacts on the community and individuals.
“Today, we celebrate intellectual curiosity , critical thinking , and effective communication as we conclude our secondary school debate programme .
“Education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and communities. As the Executive Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, I am deeply passionate about education sector and firmly believe in it’s capacity to inspire positive change.
“Our administration has made the improvement of public schools a key priority , as we strive to ensure that every child , regardless of background , has access to quality Education. We are investing not only in infrastructure, but also in programs that ignite intellectual curiosity and creativity in our young mind .
The council boss said that the debate competition is one of the areas that his administration has impacted the educational sector in Ikorodu.
“This debate competition is one such initiative , designed to sharpen the reasoning , eloquence , and critical thinking of our pupils . It is part of our broader vision to create a culture of academic excellence in our public school.
“By fostering a spirit of healthy competition , we are preparing these young minds to excel in life , equip them with the skills needed to engage with the world confidently and effectively .
“Today’s grand finale marks the culmination of months of rigorous intellectual engagement, where our students have demonstrated their brilliance and potentials. I am incredibly proud of each participant, and I salute their courage and dedication to learning .
“I believe that the knowledge and confidence gained from this exercise will serve them well as they navigate their academic journeys and future careers”, he said.
Dr (Mrs) Claudiana Sanwo – Olu, the Lagos First Lady, commended the Ikorodu LG boss and the initiator of the competition for partnering to develop students.
“Let me sincerely appreciate the chairman of lkorodu local government, Honorable Wasiu Ayodeji Adesina, and the collaborating partner, KAODWAD and associates, for bringing up this competition to further develop the students in the act of public speaking, boosting their confidence, and thereby, preparing them for leadership position in the future.
“I have no doubt that this competition can showcase the creativity embedded in the participants, encouraging them to contribute to issues around the society and also improve educational excellence across the various schools.
“Ladies and gentlemen, according to the great Nelson Mandela, education is a powerful tool which you can be used to change the world. It has also been said that literacy is a bridge from misery to hope, it is a tool for daily life in modern society”.
While calling for the sustenance of students and youths development, the Lagos First Lady also charged stakeholders to be involved in the overall developments of the youths.
She added that her office has been assisting the Lagos State Government achieve its educational aims through several programs that has been facilitated.
“As a result of this, conscious efforts must be made on a consistent basis to enhance literacy learning. We have to give our children the basic tools in supporting their education.
“As stakeholders, we must begin to passionately advocate for the kind of education that prepares these children to be academically excellent, financially emancipating and socially relevant in the future.
“We must begin to help them discover themselves very young and acquire the right skills to be competitive in various sectors.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, towards realizing the educational objectives of Lagos State which aims at making high quality education accessible to all learners through effect and efficient management of resources, as the first lady of Lagos State, there are several programmes being spearheaded at my office for young girls and boys, youths,women and elderly”, she said.
The Lagos First Lady also charged students to desist from drug use and other social vices.
Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, who was represented by Dr Saheed Ibikunle, said that the debate competition is part of the human capital development that is a central focus of the Senator Abiru’s activities.
He also thanked the initiators of the programme for providing students in Ikorodu with platform to engage in critical reasoning.
