The Ibarapa-based news platform, Peoples Conscience, has recorded yet another huge success on the sixth edition of its annual educational event, Ibarapa Debate Competition in 2025.
The venue of the programme, Femadex Royal Gardens Event Hall in Idere, was filled to the brim on Thursday, January 2, 2025, with dignitaries across all walks of life and lovers of education in Ibarapa present to witness the brilliant performance of the seven participants who made it to the grand finale of the programme.
Road to final:
It is worthy to note that Peoples Conscience received applications from over 50 secondary school students across the seven principal communities in Ibarapa between November 12 and November 30, 2024.
However, the application texts were subjected to thorough scrutiny and exceptional seven students were shortlisted for the competitive grand finale.
Hamzat Ameedat, Mamoyelo Enoch, Awotunde Adam, Okegbenle Emmanuel, Olanrele Tumininu, Zainab Abdul-rahman and Azeez Baraka represented Lanlate, Eruwa, Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan respectively, in the competition.
Grand finale:
The competition was conducted in three phases by two judges, who were neutral people of unblemished integrity, high pedigree and intimidating academic background.
Dr. Feyi Ijimakinwa is a researcher from the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. He was the guest speaker at the fifth edition of Ibarapa Community Debate on January 2, 2024. While Mr. Oluwadunni Otunla, a researcher from the University of Ibadan, brought his wealth of experience to the success of the programme.
The first phase of the competition featured essay writing. The seven participants were asked to write on a topic: “Challenges and Prospect of Agriculture in the Economic Development of Ibarapa Land.”
The essay writing segment of the competition seeks to improve the writing skills of the participants and their contents were accordingly judged by the level of depth and accuracy.
The second phase of the competition was Spelling Bee. Introduction of Spelling Bee to the competition this year, according to feedback from the people, is a significant development on the previous editions of Ibarapa Debate Competition.
Peoples Conscience is aware of the pervasive horrible situation in academic environments nationwide, which sadly exposes the deficiency in knowledge of our secondary schools. It is now common that most students confidently pronounce words without knowing the correct spelling of these words. Peoples Conscience then believes that introducing Spelling Bee to Ibarapa Debate Competition would enhance critical thinking of the participants.
So this year, participants in the sixth edition of Ibarapa Debate Competition were to give correct spelling of difficult words. That exercise, being the first time of having it as a parameter determining the fate of the participants in the competition, spiced up the programme.
The third phase of the competition was Oratory Contest. Each participant delivered speech around a given topic: “The Impact of Tourism on the Development of Ibarapa Land.”
This phase is a well-established exercise upon which participants have been yearly judged in the last six years. Oratory Contest helps the participants to build self-confidence, presentation skills and also gives them the opportunity to overcome stage fright.
The participant from Igboora, Awotunde Adam emerged the winner of the sixth edition of Ibarapa Debate Competition with a cash prize of the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira (N150,000), while Mamoyelo Enoch (Eruwa) and Hamzat Ameedat (Lanlate), as the first runner-up and the second runner-up, got one hundred and twenty thousand naira (N120,000) and one hundred thousand naira (N100,000), respectively.
MC:
The master of ceremonies of the day was Mrs. Akindele Ajibola Tolani, who displayed her exceptional knowledge of the craft and added spices to the well-attended educational event.
Dignitaries:
Peoples Conscience delegation was led to the sixth edition of Ibarapa Debate Competition by Dr. Janet Omeiza-Ogaji (Ogundairo) in the absence of the Chairman, Mr. Oluseun Olasunkanmi Ogunlana, who was unavoidably absent at the grand finale.
The guest speaker of the day, Mr. Akinbode Badiu Akinola, a Supply Chain Professional and winner of Erasmus Mundus Scholarship (2021).
Hon. Tokunbo Toriola Adewale, the award-winning agro-commodity trader and the CEO of Folawale Service Consult.
Mr. Dominic Akinjide Al-Amin Fagbemi, Real Estate Expert, the official sponsor of Ibarapa Debate Competition and founder of Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation.
Hon. Seun Fakorede, the Executive Adviser to the Oyo State Governor and Oyo State’s former Commissioner for Youth and Sports.
Dr. Feyi Ijimakinwa and Mr. Oluwadunni Otunla, researchers from the University of Ibadan and judges of the competition.
Mr. Hassan Olaoniye Adesodi, the initiator of Ibarapa Debate Competition and the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Hon. Dr. Adebayo Anthony Adepoju, Member representing Ibarapa Central/North Federal Constituency.
Guest Speaker:
The guest speaker of the day, Mr. Akinbode Badiu Akinola, while speaking on “Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stone: The Role of Resilience and Commitment in Achieving Success”, recounted his encounter of setbacks in his academic journey, emphasising that his never-say-die spirit led him to the present stage of his life.
He admonished the audience to look for opportunities around failures in life and never allow setbacks to dash their hope of achieving greatness in everything they are determined to achieve in life.
Mr. Akinbode reiterated the importance of having worthy mentors and seeking information as a way of making headway in life. He implored the students to be determined and become agents of positive change, referencing the life and impacts of well-meaning individuals in Ibarapa changing narratives.
Mr. Tokunbo Toriola Adewale and Mr. Akinjide Fagbemi, in their separate remarks at the event, advised the students to not be discouraged by their backgrounds. They both reminisced about their humble beginnings in life and how their parents struggled to give them quality education amidst hurdles. They charged the students to prepare themselves for greater opportunities that abound in the future.
Hon. Seun Fakorede said Ibarapa is blessed with appreciable human resources. He said hailing from Ibarapa is an edge with exceptionally gifted people who are seriously committed to building the region. Citing an instance, Hon. Fakorede explained how he was enthused by the writing skill of Mr. Hassan Olaoniye, the initiator of Ibarapa Debate Competition and how the standard of the news outfit (Peoples Conscience) he headed before his appointment beat that of those in the cities. He appreciated Hon. (Dr.) Adebayo Adepoju, representing Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, for finding him worthy of the role of a Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) under his representation. Hon. Fakorede concluded his speech by saying, “Ninu Ikoko dudu, ni eko funfun ti jade,” which literally means, “A white pap is prepared out of a black pot,” urging the participants to also use his story of being the youngest commissioner in Nigeria at 27 as a motivating factor that their background should never limit their greatness in life.
Scholarship offer:
Mr. Dominic Akinjide Al-Amin Fagbemi, the founder of Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation, announced a scholarship offer for the participant from Igangan, Azeez Barakah.
DAFF’s founder laid a claim that he was impressed by the performance of Azeez Barakah, who came fifth in the competition, and that the scholarship was to compensate her for the performance.
According to Mr. Akinjide Fagbemi, the scholarship is a fully funded one, and it covers her degree education.
Recall that Mr. Akinjide Fagbemi announced the same nature of scholarship offer for Shittu Ridwan, who came third in the regional debate competition in 2022. The winner of the competition is entitled to free WAEC lessons and study materials at New Breed Educational Centre, Igboora. The first and second runner-ups also have the opportunity to access study materials free of charge.
Our Partners/Donors:
The Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation (DAFF), The Olaoniye Family, The Adedigba Family, Mr. Ademola Toriola, Mr. Abayomi Afolabi, Madam Omolara Ogunmuyiwa, Mr. Adetomiwa Oyelami, Mr and Mrs Gbile Oladosu, Hadizah Adeoti were our partners and donors in the sixth edition of Ibarapa Debate Competition