Preamble
The National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) National Headquarters held the Grand Finale of the Maiden Edition of its Debate and Oratory Contest at Kwara State Banquet on Saturday 14th of December, 2019. The topic of discourse was "How Education Can Drive Sustainable Development In Nigeria" which was painstakingly and brilliantly debated upon by the ten contestants privileged to make it to the last phase of the contest.
The glamorous event was declared open by the Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, who is a renowned and astute academician from the Better By Far Varsity, University of Ilorin. This was followed by a welcome address by the Association's National President, Comrade Azeez-Adisa Jaji. The Chairperson of the Event was also a prolific scholar, Dr. Mrs. Habeebah Nike Adam, the Deputy Rector Academics, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. The Guest Speaker, Mr. Lawal Olohungbebe, Director - Centre For Community Development, Kwara State University, Malete profoundly delivered the theme lecture. Members of the Panelists include Isa Alausa Sani, Ali Faagba and Barr. Chima Osuji Esq. who gave out the criterion for grading and guidelines on the oratory delivery before the presentations kick-started.
The Programme featured some very critical and outstanding discussions on How Education can drive sustainable development in Nigeria; what could be agreed upon to be education (and its forms), the challenges facing education in Nigeria (and Nigerians willing or unwilling to be educated) and way forwards were extensively suggested and recommended by the debaters and observers as well as the Guest Speaker who did absolute justice to the topic with relevant points and examples. It also featured entertainment and games, an aspect which was remarkably coordinated by the Master of the Ceremony, MC Timi Gold CFR. Highpoints of the event include debating session among the ten finalists; Presentations of Certificate of Grand Patron and an Award of Meritorious Services to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRasaq Abdulrahman by the Ohoro of Shao, Oba (Dr.) Bamidele Adegbite and Mr. Gbenga Akanbi who ably represented the Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Health Matters, Prof. Wale Suleiman, who was unavoidably absent; Giving of refreshments and freebies to Hundreds of Participants etcetera.
OBSERVATIONS.
In the course of the debating session, the following were carefully noted from the presentations of each of the contestants;
1. JOLAYEMI FLORENCE (Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru) who was the first to mount the podium, put in a scintillating performance as she focused on what and how significant education is to the society. She tried to lay emphasis and surreptitiously penetrate the topic of discourse in a bid to spread out how education can powerfully drive sustainable development in Nigeria, but time refused to give a nod.
2. HAROON ABDULLAHI AYODEJI (University of Ilorin) approached the question in a scholarly manner. He classified and based his opinionated views on three basic points but narrowly managed to explain two which were: what is education and how education can drive sustainable development in Nigeria. But again, time doesn't permit him to spread his wings and fly aloft the skies as he wanted.
3. ADEKEYE SAMUEL PELUMI (University of Ilorin) noted that discussion is a topical and timely one, considering the recent happenings in the country. He stressed that Sustainable Development could be divided into 17 points, which he believed all could be achieved through sound and proper education of the populace.
4. HAMMED J. SULEIMAN (Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto) centered his presentation on the definitions of key words such as Education, Sustainability and Development. But time management was a thing of deep concern as he reluctantly left the podium with zeal to keep the mic with him for a longer period.
5. IBRAHIM AYINDE SHAFIHIYU AYINDE (Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State) also laid painstaking emphasis on defining education, sustainability, development, national growth. He gave some constructive analysis on education in Nigeria, but couldn't clearly proffer solution(s) to how problems confronting the sector could be tackled and drive sustainable development as expected.
6. ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD (Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto). This is a contestant who stirred the setting with pleasing emotions. His dramatic presentation worded in gripping manner was outstandingly welcomed by the audience whose faces beamed with smiles and laughter through his profound delivery. He focused on the conceptualization of education, sustainability and development.
7. ABIODUN LOVE MOFIYINFOLUWA (University of Ilorin) In her succinct and intellective delivery was fortunate to beat the time as the brilliantly penetrated the question with in-depth analysis, constructive comparison and unmatched sagacity. She suggested how education could drive sustainable development through timely intervention of the government among other relevant points made available.
8. ADEBAYO FAYSOL (University of Ilorin) He picked the mic with confidence; had a terrific start. He commanded the words and grammars like a scholar he was described as. Spoke on the concept of education and its societal challenges. Faulted over concentration on formal education as yardstick to sustainable development, but suddenly, he lost everything. The words refused to make itself available again.
9. ADEYI SOFIYULLAHI OLAMIDE: He focused his arguments on the meaning and importance of education, and partial prominence to the challenges bedeviling educational sector in Nigeria.
10. ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI ABAYOMI (University of Ilorin) Calm and composed. Fully loaded with words garnished with intellect and wisdom. Built on the weaknesses of the previous speakers, picked up his words carefully and brilliantly. Managed to let the audience feel his muse and his romanticism with words. His points were intellectual, analytical, topical and constructive.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Prof. Shehu Adaramaja extolled the confidence, brilliance and oratory prowesses of the contestants, but lamented that just three out of the ten took the bull by the horn. He posited that many of them lacked the techniques. He further stressed that instead of concentrating hugely on defining key words which pitilessly exhausted their time, they should always try to be direct and tackle the question without unneeded perambulations. He suggested that, education could be said to have potentials towards driving sustainable development if it ensures the following;
1. Remove hunger and put food on the table of the educated/learned.
2. Promote zero tolerance for corruption
3. Bring and improve environmental conditions, etcetera.
In competitions or outings like this, he urged the participants to always strive to be constructively analytical and economical with words.
• Other Contributor emphasized on the differences between school and education, and urged the students to be consider thinking beyond the box and be entrepreneurial and innovative.
- Comrade Uthman Bolaji Abdulkadir (Fodio) summarised that education does not end in school; saying it's only about discovering and bringing out potentials.
Just like research is all about scientific enquiry to solving a problem, education is also a problem solver and he who is educated must accept the responsibility of being a problem solver in the society.
PRESENTATION OF MERITORIOUS AWARD AND CERTIFICATE OF GRAND PATRON
The Foremost Students' Association in Kwara State appreciated the strenuous efforts of the His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRasaq AbdulRahman with an Outstanding Award of Meritorious Services since taking over in May 2019 and working assiduously on giving Kwara a new face with his feasible social, political and economic agendas.
The Award was presented to the Governor's Representative, Prof. Shehu Adaramaj by the Ohoro of Shao Town, Oba (Dr.) Bamidele Adegbite and the Certificate of Grand Patron was subsequently presented to him by Mr. Gbenga Akanbi.
In his reaction, he thanked the students for their immeasurable supports of the new government and most especially for always promoting peaceful coexistence that the state has for a long period of time been known for.
He noted that the governor has fulfilled part of his campaign promises by disbursing its annual bursary to about 8.304 students and about 89 students from the Nigerian Law School has also received a sum of N100,000 each directly from the state government.
LECTURE
Mr. Lawal Olohungbebe while delivering his speech give insights on how education can drive sustainable development in Nigeria. He divided sustainable development into economic, environmental and social and how each of these could help develop a nation.
On ways education could drive sustainable development, he suggested that there should be:
1. Meaningful Learning
2. Functional Learning Apparatus and Instructional Equipment
3. Assistance from Religious Leaders in promoting all forms of education
4. Schools need to teach about the environment and not teach solely the environment.
WINNERS
1. Abdulazeez Abdullahi ABAYOMI (Winner)
2. Abiodun Love Mofiyinfoluwa (First Runner Up)
3. Hammed J. Suleiman (Second Runner Up)
The Winner goes home with a cash prize of N60,000. The Second with N50,000 and The Third with N40,000.
... While one of the loyalist of the Former Senate President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria donated a sum of N50,000 to compensate the outstanding contestants.
APPRECIATION
The National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) National Headquarters is immensely grateful to the following distinguished individuals:
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRasaq AbdulRahman, Mr. Jimmy Idiagbon, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, Oba (Dr.) Bamidele Adegbite, Dr. Mrs. H. N. Adam, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, Mr. Lawal Olohungbebe, Mr. Gbenga Akanbi, Chima Osuji, Ali Faagba, Isa Alausa Sani, Comr. Uthman Bolaji Abdulkadir, Comr. Saheed Olosasa, Comr. Adebayo Joshua, Comr. Ahmad Imam, Students leaders from all walks of life that graced the occasions from North, East, West and South of the Federation, Students from various institutions and Gentlemen of the Press.
Signed:
Aliu Ahmad Gold
*Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the President*
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