By Abbas Yahaya
Local Government Secondary School, Kabawa, Lokoja has emerged as the winner of the maiden edition of the Speech competition debate that is topic, “Course of Studies; Student’s Choice or Parent’s Choice ?” While Crowther Memorial College won the Spelling Bee competition. The program which was titled ‘Prof Olayemi Akinwunmi Speech and Spelling Bee Competition’ is in honor of the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja.
The events which was organized by the NYSC Editorial CDS group was held at the Federal University Lokoja Auditorium, Adankolo campus which saw an intense battle among the participants representing their various schools. After several hours of a fiercely contested competition, a senior student of LGSS kabawa emerged the overall winner.
According to the school principal, Mr Hasipita, two students represented the school, Umar Habiba and James triumphing in the last stage of the Speech competition.
The winner, Umar Habiba, shared her excitement after the victory. “I was feeling a little bit tensed but I knew I would win. I had to memorize a lot of words and prepared very hard.”
Other participating schools for the Speech competition are Bishop Delise College, Holy Tirinity Secondary School, Government Girls Secondary School, While Institute For Arabic & Islamic Studies, Muslim Community, and Government Day Secondary School participated in the Spelling Bee
Declaring the event open, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olayemi Durotomi Akinwunmi, who was represented by the Chief Librarian of the institution, Dr. Sarah Tania expressed happiness at the feat achieved by the students, adding that the victory shows that the secondary school is already making giant strides despite the fact that it is relatively new.
The Project coordinator, Abbas Yahaya who is a serving Corp member with the Federal University Lokoja spoke on the essence of such competition and pinpoint that “Speech and Spellings activities are important for learners at all levels. Especially at the foundation level, they are keys to language development because poor spelling is the bane of many users of the English Language. I am therefore glad that the participating students have demonstrated a solid foundation in that regard,”
In his remarks, Mr Etsu Muazu Idris, Zonal Inspector, NYSC Lokoja, urged the Editorial Community Development Service Group to sustained the tempo and continue with such gesture by creating intimacy between the scheme and the Institution. He disclose that the competition is an opportunity to help the students achieve their unique dreams. “Consider it a rehearsal for greater things to come in your lives. This will introduce you to a world of opportunities.
Others in attendance were Imam Nma-Shuaib, Program Officer of the Daily Trust Foundation Abuja, Mr. Daniel Nwankwo, Public Relation Officer (FUL), Mr Inuwa Sulieman, (SSANU) Secretary (FUL), Yabagi Muhammed, Multimedia Journalist, Hajia Bashirat, Public Affairs Unit, (FUL) and Ustaz Aliyu Ntako