News Update
THE member of the House of Representatives representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Hon. Abiola Makinde, has declared thag education is the foundation for a bright and prosperous future for the nation, stressing that it should receive adequate attention from all stakeholders.
Makinde stated this at the grand finale of the 2025 Ondo Central Inter-Public Secondary School Debate and Quiz Competition, organised by the Honourable Abiola Makinde and Dr Rhoda Makinde Initiative (HAMDROMI).
He emphasised that while infrastructural development is important, equal attention must be paid to investing in education.
“It is good to catch them young by rehabilitating schools, donating instructional materials, and engaging students in competitions as a way of bringing out the best in them,” he said.
Noting that education is a key component of his WEALTH agenda, the federal lawmaker disclosed that the essence of the competition was to unearth the hidden and untapped potential in the participants.
His words: “Today, we have engaged students in debate to assess their knowledge, confidence, and understanding of the English language. We decided to select the best among the rest from the six local governments of Ondo Central.
“The purpose is not only to crown champions but to inspire and challenge them that tomorrow will be great,”
He further revealed that HAMDROMI would soon organise another competition to identify the best mathematics student in the Ondo Central Senatorial District.
Earlier, while addressing the contestants, Makinde encouraged them to seize the opportunity to showcase their vocal and cognitive skills, reminding them that reaching that stage already made them winners.
In her own address, Dr (Mrs) Rhoda Makinde advised participants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, noting that each participant was primarily competing against themselves. She added that everyone was already a winner.
“You are the architects of the future, the innovators, trailblazers, and nation-builders of tomorrow. And this experience is your training ground. Never hesitate to enter any competition. Every challenge is a classroom. Every stage is a stepping stone. And every experience, win or lose, is preparing you for the greatness ahead,” she said.
She also appreciated the parents and teachers for being guiding lights behind the students, adding that their encouragement and sacrifices had already planted the seeds of greatness.
The competition, which covered the six local government areas in the Ondo Central Senatorial District, featured the top three schools from each local government competing at the final stage.
In the quiz competition, CAC Grammar School, Akure South LGA, emerged winner, followed by St. Joseph’s College, Ondo West LGA and United Comprehensive High School, Ikota, Ifedore LGA, as first and second runners-up, respectively.
In the debate contest, Ijapo High School, Akure South LGA, emerged winner, with Methodist High School, Idanre LGA, and St. Joseph’s College, Ondo West LGA, as first and second runners-up, respectively.
The overall winners in each category received a ₦300,000 cash prize, a laptop, and educational materials, including textbooks and exercise books, alongside a planned trip to the National Assembly in Abuja.
The first runners-up received ₦200,000, while the second runners-up got ₦150,000, along with books. Other participants received consolation cash prizes and educational materials.
At the local government level, cash prizes of ₦100,000 and ₦50,000 were awarded to the first and second runners-up, respectively, along with books and textbooks.
Speaking with newsmen, Olajumoke Amos of Ijapo High School, Akure, who won the debate competition, expressed her excitement and thanked HAMDROMI for giving her the opportunity to explore and showcase her potential.
Mrs Olusegun Olowu, a teacher from Ijapo High School, also expressed her appreciation to the organisers and wished them success in all their endeavours.
Other students and teachers who spoke with The Hope expressed gratitude to HAMDROMI for the unique opportunity and exposure given to all the contestants and looked forward to more of such initiatives in the near future.