The Dr. Osahon Enabulele Foundation hosted the semi-final of its Secondary Schools Debate Competition for the Edo South Senatorial District, where twenty (24) speakers from eight (8) schools took part in the contest. The event brought together students, educators, and local government representatives from all seven LGAs in Edo South Senatorial district. This initiative is part of the Foundation’s educational initiatives, aimed at promoting intellectual development, encouraging civic engagement and public speaking, and fostering leadership qualities and critical thinking. Dr Osahon Enabulele, Past President of the World Medical Association, emphasized the importance of striving for excellence in their academic pursuits and urged students to remain focused and resilient in pursuit of their dreams. The competition featured heated debates on the topic “Social media has a detrimental effect on the intellectual capacity and mental health of teenagers”, with the students demonstrating impressive teamwork and intellectual depth. In a keenly contested event, St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School emerged as the overall winner, while Idia College and St. Michael College clinched 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively. The high point of the event was the presentation of award prizes to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placed winners. Certificates were also presented to top-performing speakers, and their teachers received certificates of participation. Among dignitaries at the event were Senator Neda Imasuen, Hon. Murphy Omoruyi, Education officials and other stakeholders. Dignitaries as well as participants lauded the Foundation for organizing the competition to nurture and develop the talents inherent in students. In a goodwill message, the Proprietor of Gilgal Education Centre, Mr Godson Ofure, who described the programme as inspiring, appreciated the Foundation for teaching youths to pursue their dreams through legitimate means. The competition is part of a state-wide inter-school debate series, continuing across other LGAs to nurture leadership and hone intellectual and cognitive skills in students.
STARS ON PARADE AT THE DOEF SECONDARY SCHOOL DEBATE COMPETITION IN IKPOBA-OKHA AND UHUNMWONDE LGAs
The Dr. Osahon Enabulele Foundation Debate Competition, for secondary schools in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Council Hall, was a resounding success. The event showcased the exceptional debating skills and intellectual prowess of students from various secondary schools within the LGA. The competition aimed to promote critical thinking, public speaking, and research skills among secondary school students across Edo State.The participating Schools were Idogbo Grammar School, St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School, Army Day Secondary school, Harvard Educational Center of Excellence and Niger College.Debate Format: The competition was characterised by engaging & well-researched arguments with eloquent rebuttals and delivery. The students demonstrated a deep understanding of the debate topic, and the audience was highly engaged throughout the event.The keenly contested event saw Harvard Educational Center of Excellence emerged 1st position with a score average of 84.2%, while St. Maria Gorretti and Niger College clinched 2nd and 3rd positions with at 80.3%, and at 74.4%. UHUMWONDE LGAThe scenario was not different at Ehor for the debate competition in Uhunmwonde LGA, with four schools battling it out for supremacy in presentation. Among the contestants were students from Ehor Grammar School, Igieduma Grammar School, St. Michael, College and Umagbae Secondary School. St. Michael College emerge 1st position, while Umagbae Secondary school and Igieduma Grammar school took the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.In separate remarks, the Director General of the Foundation, Dr. Osahon Enabulele congratulated the students and reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to improving education and equipping youths with leadership and critical thinking skills is essential for all-round development.
