In a bid to promote friendship and peaceful co-existence among the five neighbouring secondary schools in Moleteaxis, a non-profit organisation, Urban Books and Technology Inc., USA, has waded into the ongoing efforts to curb recurring violence and truancy among students of the schools.
The five schools, tagged SIOSA, are, St. Luke’s Colleges, Ibadan Grammar School, Olubi High School, St. David’s Grammar School and Anglican Grammar School.
The organisation was able to bring the schools together under its ‘Pick Up a Book Instead of a Weapon: Education is the Weapon’ initiative through a Spelling Bee organised at St. Luke’s College, which served as a central point where teachers and students from the schools could interact and bond as neighbours.
National coordinator of the organisation and Spelling Bee, Mr Akeem Suara, while speaking on the rationale for embarking on the initiative, said apart from the effort to promote education and love for learning, “it is also a move to rewrite and forestall narratives of violence, rivalry and unrest the schools are known for in the axis.”
Suara hinted that the Spelling Bee was by the Urban Books and Technology, Inc., which is the brainchild of Mr OlajideOgungbadero, a member of the 1965/69 set of Ibadan Grammar School, who is passionate about promoting academic excellence among students from the secondary to tertiary education level.
According to him, the competition and the ‘Pick up a Book Instead of a Weapon’ campaign in Nigeria, which has its base in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where the benefactor resides,“serves as catalysts for this generation of youths; to equip them for nation building, as well as to raise the bar of education standards in IGS and in the county at large.”
He noted that the Spelling Bee is also meant to stir up the reading culture among students in order to prepare and motivate them to seek higher educational opportunities and a better life, preventing them from being involved in criminal activities.
While he affirmed that a new thing has begun among the schools in the axis, he encouraged the students to embrace the new trend by cooperating with their teachers and by abiding by the rules of true ambassadors of the Urban Books and Technology Inc.
In her remarks, principal of St. Luke’s College 1, Dr (Mrs) Deborah Olaoluwa Salami, said the support her school received from the benefactor was on three tripod of education intervention namely, academic advancement through the Spelling Bee competition, infrastructural support through the donation of 100 units of three–seater furniture and campaign for peaceful co-existence among students through a campaign tagged “SIOSA: Pick Up a Book Instead of a Weapon.”
She appreciated the sponsor and Urban Books and Technology Inc. team for choosing to be a blessing to her school, noting that “all these laudable interventions were geared towards training our children to become responsible citizens.”
While calling on the alumni associations of the school to adopt the Spelling Bee as an annual event, she rallied government’s support for such academic programmes in schools across Oyo State, appealing also to cooperate bodies and well-meaning individuals to emulate the gesture in order to secure a better tomorrow for Oyo State and the country at large.
Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, represented by Mr Adeola Idowu, averred that innovations like Spelling Bee in today’s rapidly evolving world, where knowledge is key, plays a pivotal role in shaping the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
He noted that the significance of such academic exercisescould not be overemphasized, adding that it serves a crucial platform for nurturing the intellectual capabilities of the young minds, honing their linguistics skills and instilling in them a love for learning.
He applauded the management of St Luke’s School Colleges, for embracing the opportunity of hosting the maiden Spelling Bee competition that was facilitated and sponsored by the Urban Books and Technology Inc.,
He charged the students saying “by participating in this competition, you are not only showcasing your spelling prowess, but also demonstrating your commitment to personal growth and academic achievement.”
He applauded the broad objectives of the Urban Books and Technology Inc., for fostering sense of camaraderie among students, promoting sportsmanship and discouraging negative behaviours such as hooliganism and thuggery.
“It is through such positive engagements and constructive activities that we can build a safer and more harmonious learning environment for all,” he said.
He thanked the organiser of the programme on behalf of the Oyo State government and the ministry of Education, Science and Technology, for its dedication to youth education and nation building.
Special Assistant to the governor on Education Intervention, Honourable Abiodun Suraj Tiamiyu, attested to the incredibility and ingenuity of the programme, saying “this is the first time that I will be attending an event where five schools are brought together to foster unity.”
He stated that the government is not relenting on the issue of providing adequate security in schools to ensure safety both day and night for the learners to be secured and confident of their school environments.
Highlights of the programme was the inauguration of peace ambassadors from SIOSA, commissioning of the 101 units of three–seater furniture donated by the Urban Books and Technology Inc., USA, giving of awards to HonourableAbiodun Suraj Tiamiyu, the sponsor Mr Jide Ogungbaderoand national coordinator of the Urban Books and Technology Inc., USA, in Nigeria, Mr Akeen Suara, for their immense contributions to education in the state.
At the end of the competition, six winners emerged and they were rewarded with cash prizes of N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000 each for first, second and third positions respectively, with a copy of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary each, among other consolation prizes..
In the senior category, John Aramide came first; Alice Adepoju, second and Rodiat Najeem came third. In the junior category, Ayomide Ganiyu was in the first position, Deborah Fadeyibi came second and Bashit Osho came third.
Also in attendance at the event were Tutor-General, Zone, Mrs Ololade Azeez; representative of Local Inspector of Education, South East Zone, Mrs Risikat Awowoyin;principals of the St. Luke’s College II, senior and junior schools, Mrs Rachael Olujoke Adekile and Mr OlufemiMichael Ajayi; principals of senior and junior schools, IGS, Mr Johnson Oladejo and Mr Akinpelu Akinkunmi; vice principal, IGS, Mrs Oluronke Babalola; representatives of old students of the schools, members of the Urban Books and Technology Inc., the younger sister of the benefactor, Mrs Yewande Onamusi, among others.
and then