Amb. Sola Iji 2nd Quiz and Debate competition holds
– Steve Ovirih.
In his bid to encourage good spoken communication and debating skills among public secondary schools in Ondo southern senatorial district, the second edition of Ambassador Olusola Iji literary and debate competition has held In Okitipupa, the headquarters of Okitipupa Local government council.
The quiet interesting and educating debate held at the main auditorium of Stella Maris college, Okitipupa. The debating schools, Stella Maris college Okitipupa slugged it out with the students of Comprehensive High school , Igbobini. Coincidentally, the convener of the lofty project, Amb. Sola Iji is a bonafide son of Igbobini Land.
The debating topic was ” Civilian government is better than Military government”. While students of Comprehensive High school Igbobini supported the motion, Stella Maris College debaters opposed the motion.
While declaring the debate opened, the Principal of Stella Maris College , Comrade Bosun Lijoka thanked Ambassador Iji for encouraging scholarship and instilling in the students the ability to engage confidently in refined and logical conversation. He noted that with many of these kind of lofty projects by philantropists from the senatorial district, our students are poised to compete confidently with students from other senatorial districts of the state and even beyond.
Two judges who assessed and awarded marks for the debating schools are Mrs. Bamidele , a seasoned linguist and English Language teacher from Ofedepe Comprehensive college, Okitipupa and Mr. Aderibigbe Sunday,
While leading the debate for Comprehensive High school Igbobini, Miss. Asuleghan Adebisi noted that military government does not breed corruption as we have it now and doesn’t encourage bureaucratic redtapism which draws back the ability of government to fast track decision taking. The Chief speaker from Igbobini also said it was only under a democratic governance that a looted loot ” will be apparently re looted!”
In their counter opinions, the duo of Oripinye Roseline and Ademoeso Adeduro , both speakers from Stella Maris College , averred that the worst Civilian government is better than the best of military dictatorship where autocrats suspend the Constitution and continue to rule base on their whims and caprices. They both agreed that most military government are hijacked at the Central by cabals who are not known to the Constitution and who are neither voted for nor recognised the strength of existing constituency. They charged the audience to pray not to experience another autocracy and Jack boot governance such as we had it in Nigeria in the early eighties.
In the final juggling of points by the judges, Stella Maris college was adjudged first runner up with 61 points, while Comprehensive High school Igboni carried the day with 70 points .The participants from both schools were given both cash awards and presentation of text book materials.
While speaking with thepolity.net, the representative of Amb . iji, Apostle.Gbelela said
he was delighted to be at the gathering and notes and children. that with students like the debaters, we have a hope of a better future for our children of schooling age.
Mrs. Kuye and Bishop Gbelela presented gifts to participants from both Igbobini compresibf
From the invited schools, the student of Unique Group of schools Okitipupa, miss. Netufo Ayomikun who contributed to the debate from the gallery also got a gift of an English Dictionary for her brilliant contribution.
While speaking with thepolity.net, the representative of Amb . iji, Apostle.Gbelela said he was delighted to be at the gathering and noted that with students like the debaters, we have a hope of a better future for our children in the southern senatorial district. He thanked the coordinators for putting together such an educationally inspiring show. Gbelela said, “Ambassador Iji is a worthy leader who is very passionate about anything that will add positively to the lives of students in this area. I shall go back to tell him that the debating competition was a huge success.”
Also speaking with the polity.net, the chief speaker from Comprehensive High school Igbobini, miss. Asuleghan Adebisi showered encomiums on the convener of the exercise, Amb. Sola Iji, whom she described as a philantropist of note who has always supported student friendly programmes in her school. She said beside this debating exercise, Ambassador Olusola Iji had given scholarship offers to both indigent and brilliant students of Igbobini.
In his own opinion, Master Ademeso Adeduro, a debater from Stella Maris College said he has been able to add to his boldness as a debater ; he thanked Amb. Iji for his huge financial support for the programme, noting that as far as he is concerned the debate competition has broaden his vocabulary skills.
