Lagos State has emerged winner of the 2020 President’s Inter-SUBEB debate Nigeria (PSDN) championship.
The competition, which held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, focused on Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary.
Lagos State defeated Ebonyi on 4-1 scores in the final debate, with Elizabeth Adeleye from Lagos state emerging best speaker with a N200,000 prize given to the school.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, commended the organisers for the gesture.
Tallen, who was represented by Mr Olusa Dada, the Director Special Duties, Ministry Women Affairs, noted that education was the backbone of national development.
She emphasised the need to ensure participation of women, girls and other vulnerable groups in the society.
“My Ministry is not only to serve as a national vehicle that will bring about speedy and healthy development of Nigerian women, children and other vulnerable groups.
“It is also to ensure survival, development and participation in preparation for meaningful adult life and protection for the aged,” she said.
Tallen called on Nigerians, particularly parents, to make it as a matter of duty, encourage participation of their girl child in acquiring education.
She added that this would help bring about a healthy family, thereby producing a civilised society that would bring about prosperity, economic, political and socio-cultural development.
The National Coordinator, President’s Schools Debate of Nigeria, Mr Dare Oritu, said the championship would help in selection of teams that would participate at international debate competitions in future.
He listed such competitions as international debates in Qatar, Scotland, South Korea, South Africa, Turkey,
Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and India, among others
He said the occasion have some eminent personalities who are to be honoured because of their spectacular achievements in the educational sector at the state level.
“These are distinguished executive chairmen of SUBEB who have ensured that the basic education programme of the federal
government is delivered to the citizenry in their respective states.”
The awardees are Dr Abubakar Tahiru Usman, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board; Dr Isah Adamu, Executive Chairman of Niger State Universal Basic Education Board; and High Chief H. E Ipkor, Chairman, Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board.
Othets are the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Adeniran, and Abubakar Maradun from Zamfara. (NAN)
