Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State at the weekend hosted the six public school students who won the presidential debate competition in Abuja, rewarding each of them with One million naira cash gift and state scholarship for their undergraduate studies in any discipline.
The governor called the students the pride of the government and people of Kwara State, commending them for their impressive outing and thanking their parents and teachers as well as the leadership of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) for its roles in the feat.
Kwara recently won the 63rd edition of the presidential debate in Abuja for the second time in a row, asserting its leadership in the competition, which involves participants from all the states of the federation.
Kwara had also won the last edition of the speaking contest in 2021 in Lagos state, with the winners similarly accorded a state reception by the governor, cash rewards, and university scholarship.
The victory in Lagos State was what led to Kwara State representing Nigeria at the International Debate Competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. However, with the latest victory, the students will be representing Nigeria at the world school debate championship in the Republic of Serbia in Europe.
The latest champions were led to the Government House in Ilorin, by the chairman of KWSUBEB, Professor Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, who also came home with an award of the best SUBEB chairman in northern Nigeria.
The debate team, which comprised exclusively students from public schools, include: Mashood Kamaldeen (Government Secondary School, Ilorin East LG); Jatto Ramatallahi (Offa Grammar School, Offa); Jimoh Abayomi Emmanuel (Tanke Community Junior Secondary School, Ilorin South); Emmanuel Chioma (St. Anthony Junior Secondary School, Ilorin East); Dolapo Mariam (Offa Grammar School, Offa); and AbdulKareem Uswat ( Okelele Junior Secondary School Ilorin East).
Acknowledging that gaps still exist in the education sector, Governor AbdulRazaq pledged to continue to invest in human capital development to totally restore the glory of Kwara as the best state in education in northern Nigeria, if not the whole country.
The reception was attended by the chairman, House Committee on Education Hon Baba Boriya; chief of staff to the Governor Prince AbdulKadir Mahe; Commissioner for Education, Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu; Special Adviser on Education, Dr Adetola Salau Ariyike; former Senior Special Assistant for Special Duties, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jidda, teachers and parents of the celebrities.
Commissioner for education, Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, said that the success story was a product of the government’s investments in the education sector, which, she noted, is already bearing fruits, commending the Governor for his visionary leadership.
Introducing the children to the Governor, the state’s SUBEB chairman, ProfessorAdaramaja, thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for handling the basic education in the state with all seriousness and for leading by example, acknowledging him as the main architect of the victory.
Dr Jatto, a parent who spoke on behalf of others, appreciated the governor for the awards and how his government had restored confidence in the public school system in the state.
Jatto said the government’s investments are clearly yielding results, adding that “history will be kind to the governor and his team for their efforts in the education sector.”
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