Independence day essay competition: We’ll build next generation of leaders ― Oyetola

Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Friday, said his administration is concerned about building the next generation of leaders in the state.

He described this concern as the motivation behind organising the Independence Day 2021 Osun State Government essay competition.

This is as Miss Adegboyega Abisola Faith from Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, emerged the winner for secondary school category, while Master Adeyemo Victor Ayodeji, a medical student from Bowen University and indigene of Odo-Otin Local Government won the tertiary institution category.

It would be recalled that the Osun State government had announced that interested students of secondary schools and higher institutions of learning should submit essays on the chosen topics.

Governor Oyetola who was represented by his Deputy, Benedict Alabi, at the Grand Finale of the essay competition, organised by the State Government to commemorate the 61st year Independence Anniversary of the country, said: “This essay competition recommends itself highly as a platform for stimulating excellence among our students. It charges them not only to be imaginative as active producers of relevant ideas for nation-building but to also courageously ventilate such ideas unashamedly in the public space.”

“What comes with such effort is the deliberate training of the mind to acquire the requisite capacity for healthy engagement of societal challenges. This is the goal of any functional education.”

“Since assumption of office, our Administration has prioritized the provision of qualitative education for our young people. This is because we know that building a sustainably prosperous state requires strategic investment in our young people in a manner that prepares them for the reality of the keenly competitive global knowledge economy.

“This is the least we owe our young people, and we shall not disappoint them,” Oyetola said.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Lekan Badmus appreciated the state governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the Osun 2021 essay competition among students of secondary and tertiary schools as part of the activities lined up to mark the 61st Independence Day of Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties received 700 entries from 34 participating schools of both private and public higher institutions across the country. The entries were also received from 23 local government areas of the State and also from non-indigenes.

According to Badmus: “Today, our dear state has assembled a sizeable population of youths to think and suggest probable solutions to the challenges facing us as a nation. To some people, this might not sound interesting as Osun State Government has thought-out-of-box and moved away from the conventional March past to this assemblage.

“You will agree with me that this initiative will promote reading and writing culture among our students. This gesture is dynamic, capable of encouraging healthy rivalry as well as intellectual competition amongst Students’ in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions. I thank Your Excellency for powering this laudable programme,” he said.

In his keynote address, the Chairman of the event, Lt. General Lamidi Adeosun (rtd), gave kudos to the Governor for giving the students the opportunity to participate in the essay competition.

General Adeosun described the event as a thing of joy, adding that in a world where negative activities have become the norm, Osun State has braved up to organise such a challenging event.

He charged participants and the teeming youth population of state not to relent in their efforts in contributing their quota to the development of the society, adding that education, security and other developmental needs of the State and the nation, are a collective responsibility.

He also recommended a revisit of family values and ideals as instrumental to rebuilding the weak security architecture of the nation, adding that security is not only a top-down affair but also has a bottom-up dimension which lies in the hands of citizens.

The winner of the maiden edition, Abosede Samson Oyinlola, lauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for the initiative behind the essay competition, describing it as a preparatory phase for future leaders of the state to begin to identify the problems facing the society and proffer solutions.

In his goodwill message, the Head of Service, Dr Olowogboyega Oyebade, lauded Governor Oyetola for the initiative, stating that: “I’m a product of this kind of a competition.”

He charged participants to see the prizes gotten from the exercise as a start-up pack for greater accomplishments.

After serious scrutiny of the final 25 contestants in both secondary and tertiary category, the three best candidates who emerged winners were: Adegboyega Abisola Faith from Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Olaniyi Inioluwa Opeyemi from Ambassadors College Ile-Ife, and Onwugbofor Happiness from Our Lady and St. Francis College – for the secondary school category.

The winners for the tertiary institution category were: Adeyemo Victor Ayodeji from Bowen University, Ayoola Victor Oluwagbemiga from the University of Ibadan, and Ademuyi Stella Jesuloluwa from Adeleke University, Ede.

The winners for the tertiary category, aside from cash prizes, also won a Toyota Corolla car.

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