CMS Grammar School, Lagos has won the Senior Secondary Schools ultimate public speaking contest tagged: “The Eloquence Cup” and displaced the defending champions, Queens College.
The competition was organised by the School of Eloquence in Lagos last weekend, according to a press statement released yesterday by the registrar, Patience Essien.
Speaking on the theme: “The Nigerian Youth and ‘Japa’ Syndrome; Which Way Forward,” students from six secondary schools debated on mass emigration that has resulted in many persons of productive age leaving the country.
The students from three participating schools – Leopold Favour; CMS Grammar School; Abiola Oyindamola; Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School and Precious Oyinlola of Queens College Lagos clinched first, second and third prizes with cash rewards of N100,000; N75,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Ubong Essien, a certified speaking professional, Founder of the school and convener of the Eloquence Cup described teachers as heroes of the outstanding performances of their students in a competition aimed at identifying and sharpening their speaking potentials earlier in life
“While I commend the students for their brilliant performances, we want to specially applaud their teachers for helping to discover them early and nurturing them further.
“The students have shown a vast understanding of the issue discussed with research based figures and statistically defending their positions on the subject matter. They have also proven ,through the debates, to be very abreast with current affairs.
“These were fallouts of teachers’ effort in unearthing their speaking potentials required for day to day engagements at school, in the society and in their future endeavours
“This event, which is an annual iconic oratory competition between senior secondary schools in Lagos, is in its fourth edition.
“We aim to nurture the culture of effective spoken communication at the secondary school level and create spaces for additional prizes for schools that would emerge second and third positions in future” he said.
The special guest of honour and director-general of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) lDr. Bashir Jamoh, lauded the initiative and described effective communication as a major step in addressing any type of challenge
Represented by NIMASA director of special duties, Isichei Osamgbi, the DG commended the School of Eloquence for its “catch them young” initiative, saying the initiative is a trailblazer.
