Lagos school wins N100,000 prize in debate contest

Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja GRA, won the N100,000 cash prize in the inter-school debate organised by Lions International, District 404B5, to mark World Literacy Day.

The school emerged as the winner after primary school pupils from five schools debated the negative effects of social media on children and young people.

The debate, held at Bola Memorial Primary School, Ikeja, was part of the reading action programme organised by the Lions to promote literacy and improve children’s learning and communication skills.

The other participating schools also received prizes for their performances.

Speaking at the event, District Governor Phina Origho said the programme was designed to promote literacy and help children develop their learning abilities.

She said, “Lions Club International is very concerned about literacy and helping children develop their learning abilities.

“So, we organised primary school pupils for a reading action programme, and today, we had them debate the ills of social media. Although there are advantages to using social media, there are also negative effects that can affect young people in society. That is why our focus is on children and ensuring that they are properly guided as they grow.”

Origho said the reading action programme was one of several activities Lions could adopt to mark World Literacy Day, adding that the organisation could also hold podcasts, question-and-answer sessions and lectures.

She explained that the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board selected the participating schools.

The district governor expressed satisfaction with the pupils’ performances, stressing the need to guide children early amid the growing influence of social media.

“I am very impressed with the presentations by the children. The world today is going haywire, and if you see what children do, especially when they follow social media and its negative effects, you will understand the need to teach them early.

“We need to groom them from an early age so that, as they grow, they will continue to practise what they have been taught,” she added.

The chairperson of the committee that planned the programmes in Ekiti and Lagos, Olapeju Hassan, said 21 Lions clubs collaborated on the initiative across the two states.

Hassan said 10 clubs were participating in the inter-school programme in Ekiti, where back-to-school items, including more than 1,000 notebooks, school bags, water bottles and school shoes, were distributed to pupils.

“These are basic items that relieve parents and help children have a good head start for the term,” she said.

She said the club usually organised spelling bee competitions to mark World Literacy Day but introduced debates this year to promote communication and public-speaking skills among pupils.

“Usually, for World Literacy Day, we organise spelling bee competitions. But this time around, I decided to do something different because, within the national programme, I am passionate about promoting good speaking, communication and the ability of children to express themselves.

“I think the best way to do that is not through spelling bees alone. We can sometimes divert a little and do something unique, such as debates. Debates help children develop their communication skills and express themselves confidently,” she said.

Hassan added that schools in the Maryland and Ikeja areas were invited through SUBEB, with five eventually participating in the Lagos competition.

A teacher of Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School, Fasipe Taiwo, expressed delight after the school won the contest.

She said, “I’m so happy about today’s programme. It was impromptu, but I thank God that we came first in the programme.”

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