The Lagos State Government has commended the Federal Government for initiating the President’s Inter-Basic Schools Debate to foster social stability and self-reliant students, who can easily integrate and exchange academic, intellectual and cultural values for the betterment of the nation at large.
This was disclosed by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, at the National Finals and Award Ceremony of the 61st Independence Anniversary of the President’s Inter-Basic Schools Debate Championship held at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said the competition is a platform aimed at fostering national peace and unity while building the spirit of sportsmanship, public speaking, confidence as well as capacity development for future endeavours.
He said that his administration, in its quest for qualitative education, has so far delivered 1,449 school infrastructure projects with the recently commissioned Elemoro Junior Secondary School, urging students not to rest on their oars at achieving success in academics and co-curricular activities, just as he emphasised that the greatest premium of any State is the development of its students academically.
Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the academic performance of students in Lagos State as shown in the last West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results with over 85% outstanding performance compared to past years, attributing the feat to the huge investment in infrastructure, training and retraining of teachers to boost effectiveness and efficiency for qualitative teaching and learning methods.
Earlier, the National Coordinator, President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, Elder Dare Oritu, represented by Dipo Ibitoye, disclosed that the three days rigorous intellectual exercise will help groom young debaters for future competitions such as the Annual International Debate Competition.
He expressed gratitude to the Presidency through the Federal Ministry of Education for its unflinching support in the past years, while appreciating the Lagos State Government for its collaborative role in ensuring that the 61st independence anniversary of the debate competition was successful.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary – Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) – Dr. Hammid Bobboyi, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr. Isiaka Kolawole, noted that the gradual disappearance of debate in basic schools has caused more harm than good, giving room for unhealthy rivalry and other social vices in the system.
“The need to sustain the art of public speaking cannot be overemphasised as a co-curricular activity that boosts students’ oratory skills”, he submitted.
At the end of the National Finals, Kwara State emerged winner beating Katsina State to the second position while Lagos State clinched the third position.
