The First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has applauded students of public schools in Ikorodu Local Government for their eloquence, critical reasoning and persuasive skills.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu gave the applause during the Grand-finale of the 2nd Edition of Ikorodu Local Government Inter-School Debate Competition, organized by Kaodwad & Associates, in conjunction with Ikorodu Local Government, led by Hon Wasiu Adeshina.
The competition which started with 16 schools in the first round climaxed with four schools making it to the finals.
At the end of a keen contest and open display of public speaking skills on the topic, Women are the cause of domestic violence in marriages, Elepe Community Grammar School emerged winner with a total 74.1 while Government Senior Model College emerged the first runner up with 72.1 points. Ipakodo Senior Community Grammar School came third with 70 points.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event applauded the students, their teachers and most especially Ikorodu Local Government and Kaodwad and Associates for organizing the competition.
‘The debate competition is one of such initiatives designed to sharpen the reasoning, eloquence and critical thinking of our students. It is part of our broader vision to create a culture of academic excellence in our public schools’, he stated.
By fostering the spirit of healthy competition, we are preparing these young minds to excel in life, by equipping them with the skills needed to engage the world confidently and effectively’, he added.
Mr Kareem Executive Director of Kaodwad and Associates in his welcome address disclosed that his team and their supporters decided to organize the competition as a way of beaming the search light on the need for well-meaning individuals to support academic excellence, noting that government alone cannot meet all the educational needs of the society.
Winner of the competition carted away the sum of N500,000 Naira with brand new laptops, while the second runners-up got the sum of N300,000 with laptops with the second runners-up receiving the sum of N200,000 with laptops as well.
The event was witnessed by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye and his son, Hon Gbolahan Ogunleye, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu Constituency 1.
Top APC Chieftains and other dignitaries like the Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru and Rep Babajimi Adegoke Benson were also represented.
