Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria – Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has rewarded schoolchildren from the state who recently won the International Junior Secondary School Debate Championship in Malaysia.
Okay News reports that the students also went on to win the Nigerian Presidential School Debate competition held in Lagos shortly after their international victory.
The Kwara debate team includes Lawal Maryam Kikeloma, Jatto Rahmatallah Onize, Paul Unity, Fatimah AbdulRahman Thaini, and Priscilla Aremu Temilayo.
Speaking in Ilorin while hosting the students, Governor AbdulRazaq announced a cash reward of N2 million for each of the five students in recognition of their achievement. He also awarded N500,000 each to their tutors.
The governor described the students as worthy ambassadors of both Kwara State and Nigeria.
According to him, the reward was part of his administration’s tradition of encouraging excellence and scholarship among young people.
He added that the state government would continue to invest heavily in the education sector, including improvements in school infrastructure, curricula, and support for civil servants contributing to reforms in the sector.
AbdulRazaq noted that the progress recorded in education in the state today would have been difficult to imagine several years ago when salaries were not being paid.
He, however, acknowledged that more work still needs to be done to further improve standards in the education system.
The governor also congratulated the parents and teachers of the students for their dedication and for instilling values that helped the children achieve success in the competitions.
