Oyo State Secondary school debate team has emerged winner in the 2021 inter-senior secondary school debate competition organised by the President’s Schools Debate, Nigeria (PSDN), in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Education.
The event took place at the Ibadan Business School, Francis Okediji Street, Bodija, from May 17 to May 20, 2021 and drew debate teams from all six South-West states.
The Oyo State team were first while debaters from Ogun and Ekiti states placed second and third respectively in the debate.
The Oyo state governor; Engr. Seyi Makinde was represented by the Director of Schools, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Christianah Bolaji at the event and she stated that a country’s path to greatness is assured when quality minds that are masters of the art of debate make up its legislature.
She said quality debate is the staple of democracy, which characterises the legislatures of advanced democracies of other countries.
The governor’s representative also noted that events like the debate are very important as they cover both curricular and co-curricular spheres.
According to Mrs. Christianah Bolaji:
“The prime aim of modern education is the all-round development of students’ personalities and this requires careful application of not only curricular but also co-curricular activities. Speaking of co-curricular activities, the importance of inter-school competition cannot be gainsaid.
Studies have established that competitions among students promote better performances. As such, in addition to the annual State Quiz Debate and Spelling Bee Competition, government is also promoting the participation of our students in national competition to boost their talents, skills and inculcate the qualities of sportsmanship spirit, teamwork and cooperation.”
She also expressed her appreciation of the national organising body of PSDN under the auspices of the Office of Her Excellency, the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari for giving the hosting rights of the regional competition to Oyo State.
Mrs. Christianah Bolaji, thanked Governor Makinde for approving the release of funds to host the competition, and for his visionary leadership, which she said recognises the primacy of education to the development aspirations of the state.
Dignitaries at the event were the national coordinator of PSDN, Elder Dare Oritu; the vice chairman (Southern Nigeria), National Advisory Board of PSDN, Professor Modupe Adelabu; Professor Benedict Emunemu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Oyo State, Mrs. Aminat B. Atere, among others.
