The Lagos State government on Tuesday presented prizes to winners of this year’s essay writing competition among students from primary to senior secondary schools across the state.They were given the prizes, including personalised trophies, notebooks, school bags and other items at the award presentation event held at the state’s Education Resource Centre in Ojodu-Berger.A 14-year-old SS1 student of Ifesowapo Senior Secondary School, Aboru, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, Miss Abdulyekini Amirat, won the Senior School Category, beating the duo of Mantori Zaradeen of Birrell Avenue Senior High School, Yaba and Adekoya Omowonuola of Eva Adelaja Girls Senior High School, Bariga to second and third position respectively.
Similarly, Oluwaseun Gabriel of Community Junior Secondary School, Bayeku and Akinola Akinyemi Mathew of Methodist Junior High School, as well as Patrick Rhoda Sesi of Araromi Ilogbo Junior Grammar School won the first, second and third prizes of the Junior School cetagory, while the trio of Yusuf Yusuf Folorunsho of Community Primary School, Oke-Odo, Abule Egba; Yekini Moridiat of Dairy Farm Nursery\Primary School, Agege as well as Khadijah Sulaiman of Bishop Ajana Memorial Primary School, also Agege, received the first, second and third prizes of the Primary School Category, respectively.The student wrote on different topics of global importance, such as “The Impact of a healthy environment on life and the economy,” “The impact of Artificial intelligence on learning,” “Technology, a course or a blessing to education and society,” among others.Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, underscored the importance of the annual essay writing to students, saying it will provoke deep thinking, enhance knowledge and general performance in class.She congratulated all the winners and their teachers, urging them to remain committed to their respective duties.
She noted that the state government would not relent in supporting their education and other things that would prepare them well for the future.Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Director of Co-curricular Services Division under the ministry, Mrs Oluyemisi Adebesin, described the competition as a veritable platform to share “ideas and thoughts on issues of public importance.She particularly expressed happiness over the “impressive performance” of students in the competition across the three categories.She explained that the annual competition is designed to promote creativity, healthy competition and writing skills among students at all levels across the six educational districts of the state.
She noted that the students, especially the winners, put up strong essays that demonstrate their knowledge about critical issues affecting education and society at large.She added that the ministry would continue to encourage the learners to be equipped with the right knowledge and skills that would make them globally competitive, even as she urged the parents to equally play their roles in their children.Sharing her experience, the winner of the Senior School Category, Amirat, told Nigerian Tribune on the sidelines, that she studies beyond class work, including engaging in research work on the internet.She thanked the state government and especially the Commissioner for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, for creating the platform for them to demonstrate their writing prowess.She said she aspires to become a successful cybersecurity expert.
