DEBATE PODIUM IS BACK AND BETTER; TO INVOLVE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS ACROSS OGUN WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT.
Friday, 5th March 2021
Adekunle Adelakun.
@Mailings.com
The management of The Compassionate Group TCG who are the organizer of Debate Podium, a famous academic event which had gained prominent in Ogun State said it has resolved to resuscitate its annual academic festival; Debate Podium, and will hold the fourth edition this year 2021. Speaking during a virtual press briefing yesterday March 4. The founder/chairman of the non-governmental organization Azeem Oladimeji Salako said the resuscitation of the event is partly informed by an open disclosure made by the mother of the last winner of Debate Podium 2016.
Azeem Salako said he was recently a guest speaker at a public lecture and when it was time to interact with the audience, a woman who identified herself as the mother of Victor, the winner of the 3rd Debate Podium 2016, was handed the microphone on her request. Thinking that she would ask questions pertaining to the discourse, instead; she was full of appreciating the management that organized the Debate Podium 2016. She claimed that she and Victor, her son came to the event purposely because they discovered I will be the speaker and it was important for them to utilize the opportunity to thank the management of Debate Podium which I am part of. According to her;
“The cash prize that my son Victor won was used to obtain the O level, Jamb, and Post-Jamb forms that got him admitted into the University of Lagos, and his triumph in that competition encouraged myself and Victor’s father to pay more attention to his education. More so, it will be sinful if I claim that the competition was unconnected to the confidence he had that made him excel in all his papers at single sitting Vis a Vis his choice to study history and international relations.”
So I discussed this scenario with other members of our management and we find it rather discomforting that the event of this magnitude held last in 2016 therefore leaving an interregnum of four (4) years. Although, not only Victor is excelling in his academic. Also, the winners of the first and second edition; Owolola Silifat, Oladiran, and Ruth are now graduates from different higher institutions in Nigeria.
Mr. Azeem Salako furthered by saying; when you conceive the uncontrolled abuses that accompany this age of ultra-globalization and then you reflect on the huge dwindling rate of positive social and critical consciousness among emerging adults, and the absence of history as a subject which can guide and shape their orientation, and place these beside the inchoateness they developed at secondary school level and how they traverse this wrong mindset to higher institution that sometimes transform into political apathy, or and disruptive behavior for those who attempt aggressive social change. Then, one will have a clue to the source of Nigeria’s social dysfunctionality and regard the possibility of a better Nigeria as mere idealistic.
This is the role debate podium plays and we have deemed it necessary to resuscitate the event which its mission is; constructing critical mind and their ability to discern the complex social environment, furthering intellectual exchange, inclusive aggregation of opinion and rewarding academic excellence he said.
According to the secretary, Comrade Akere Samson. He said, this year edition will involve all private and public secondary schools in the entire five (5) local government that comprises Ogun West senatorial district and two (2) from each local government will be selected through an impartial process to participate at the grand finale where a Grand winner will emerge.
Mr. Olanrewaju Ayorinde, who is the Deputy Grand Coordinator (academics) explained that the competition will go through a rigorous process. He said, we are taking the hybrid model (stages and form) to start and conclude the process. The preliminary stage which will be in two phase will take the form of essay, thereby selecting from each local government ten (10) best essay in line with West African Examination Council WAEC standard. We will thereafter conduct another essay examination which two (2) out of the ten (10) from each local government will be selected to participate at the grand finale.
Mr. Ayorinde clarified that the first phase of the essay will be a “take-home” so, we expect concerted and inclusive effort in its construct. The second phase of the essay will take the form of a “supervised indoor examination” and this will be conducted at a designated place in each local government. Thereafter, the overall ten (10) finalists will contest at the grand finale in an oral debate competition. He added that the organization is ready to take on with this herculean task and leverage on its previous challenges and successes to ensure that the success of this year edition surpasses the previous ones.
The Deputy Grand Coordinator (administration) Mr. Lamidi Lawal said this year edition will incorporate technological advancement and high professionalism. We are partnering with portal service providers to provide the options of online registration, essay submission and result checking. We will also use the media to announce the names of successful winners from each stage as well as their qualifying grades to promote transparency. We have also planned to employ high professionals to mark and grade the essay writing as well as those who will stand in as judges at the grand finale he added.
The Secretary Comrade Akere Samson in his closing remarks announce that Debate Podium will officially kick off on the 15th of March till 1st of May when the grand finale is to hold. He noted that the Ministry of Education, Ogun State has been duly informed. He added, that, the registration form to all participating schools is free at all stages. Additionally, participants and winners will be rewarded with wonderful prizes including cash. We are confident that the event by the special grace of God and with the assured support from our corporate and individual partners will be thrilled with suspense, rigor, audacity, intellectuality and entertainment. As usual, it will be an academic festival he concluded.
