‘Best way to build the nation is to start with students’

SCORES of pupils, students and teachers of private and public primary and secondary schools in Ibadan North-East and Ibadan South-East local government areas, few days ago, revealed their love for competition and victory when they noted that on an annual basis, they look forward to the Omo-Oloore Quiz and Debate Competition, which avails private and public schools the opportunity to shine and win different prizes.

At the 3rd Edition of the annual educational programme organised by Honourable Adedapo Lam-Adesina and held at the Wesley College, Elekuro, Ibadan, the principal of Yejide Girls Grammar School, Mrs Tokunbo Akinsanya and the proprietor of Solam Model College, Mr Solademi Mayowa, among others, said they and their students relish the opportunity the programme presents to the schools and students annually.

And why won’t they? Yejide Girls Grammar School’s representatives, Owolabi Atinuke and Bisola Williams and Solam Model College’s representatives, Oriolowo Ibrahim and Moruf Kausara emerged the winners in the public and private secondary school debate competitions, going home with a trophy and electronic tablets each.

Like the winners, every other participant in the competitions became a winner on that day, as they all got the electronic tablet, which Hon. Lam-Adesina noted was designed with academic resources to aid the students in their education.

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Speaking during the programme, Hon. Lam-Adesina maintained that the Omo-Oloore Quiz and Debate Competition was important and dear to his heart because it was a way of preparing the students for future challenges, noting that “the best way to build a nation is to build the children and ensure sound education.”

The lawmaker, who stated that he was motivated not to give cash prizes or other gifts but the electronic tablets, which are strictly designed for academic engagements, said that apart from helping the students with academic resources, the tablets would also give them knowledge of Information Technology, which has become indispensable to educational endeavours.

Oriolowo Ibrahim, who was the first speaker for Solam Model College, which came first in the private secondary schools said: “Our preparation for the competition was quite tough and thorough and I am happy that we came out victorious. I appreciate Hon. Lam-Adesina for this opportunity and for the electronic tablet prize. It has contents on several subjects such as Mathematics, English Language and so on.”

The event was attended by officials of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and All Nigerian Conference of Secondary Schools Principals (ANCOPPS) in Ibadan North-East and Ibadan South-East local governments, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in the two local governments and other stakeholders in the constituency.