Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has presented N6 million cheques to the six public school students who recently won the presidential debate competition in Abuja.
The six public school students are Mashood Kamaldeen (Government Secondary School, Ilorin East LG); Jatto Ramatallahi (Offa Grammar School, Offa); Jimoh Abayomi Emmanuel (Tanke Community Junior Secondary School, Ilorin South); Emmanuel Chioma (St. Anthony Junior Secondary School, Ilorin East); Dolapo Mariam (Offa Grammar School, Offa); and AbdulKareem Uswat (Okelele Junior Secondary School Ilorin East).
AbdulRazaq congratulated them and their parents on the feat, saying the government will continue to monitor their educational progress.
“Once again, I congratulate the victorious students of the 2023 Presidential School Debate of Nigeria.
We are happy about the feat. You’ve made us proud in Kwara State. We are committed to your progress and we will continue to monitor that,” he said.
AbdulRazaq said billions of naira will be committed this year to various educational and hygiene programmes, such as AGILE and WASH, to aid learning and improve the safety of pupils in schools.
“We continue to make sure you, and indeed every Kwara child, have a very conducive environment to learn. That is why Kwara is one of the states that engage in the FG/World bank-supported AGILE project (Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment). We shall be making full advocacy about other programmes the state has subscribed to over the coming months as well.
“This year, billions will be invested to improve the educational curriculum and infrastructure in our schools. We are taking this very seriously. We will make sure we cover most schools as we go along.
“To the teachers and parents, I urge you to keep up your support for these kids and for their education. Let us continue to strengthen our patriotism to the state and to Nigeria as a whole,” the governor stated.
He appreciated the management and staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)for what he called a remarkable improvement in their commitment to work, and pledged his continued support to the agency to sustain the tempo.
AbdulRazaq also thanked the traditional institutions for their support and sought their continued engagement and suggestions that will improve service delivery in the education sector.
The chairman of SUBEB, Prof Sheu Adaramaja thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for keeping his promise to the debate champions, adding that the pupils will reciprocate by bringing home another trophy in subsequent competitions.
He said the lucky six will represent Nigeria at the World School Debate Championship in the Republic of Serbia in Europe later in July this year.
