For the third time running, Team Kwara recently won the presidential school debates at the primary school level. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB captures the team’s heroic return to Ilorin.
The atmosphere at the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin, on Saturday November 23, was filled with great joy as top officials of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB), teachers, proud parents and families thronged the airport to await the arrival of the state contingents to the just concluded 2024 presidential school debate in Abuja.
Led by the executive chairman of KWSUBEB, Professor Raheem Adaramaja, Team Kwara became the toast of all for coming top at the championship for the third consecutive time, back-to-back.
After a three-hour wait, officials of the Overland Airline conveying the team, announced their arrival and the whole environment erupted in joy. And at exactly 4:28pm, to the excitement of all, including the bemused airport staff, the team members smartly stepped out of the aircraft
Prior to their disembarkation of the pupils, the expectant crowd peeped through the windows and the airport’s barbed wire to catch a first-hand glimpse of their children, wards and pupils as the aircraft torched the tarmac amidst chants of Alhamdu llilahi (showing gratitude to Almighty Allah) for the rare feat and safe landing.
…Family reunion
Dressed in a colourful native attire, the pupils were also glad to reunite with their families after a long journey and months away from home, which culminated in a sweet victory.
“It was not easy leaving your child for 3 months. At a point, we had to resort to faith because we were convinced that they were on the path of success and thank God, today we have a success story to tell”, Mrs Sefurat AbdulRamana, mother of the team captain, Fatima AbdulRahaman, told Blueprint in an interview.
The joy of other visibly proud and elated parents also knew no bound. While some rushed to lift their children up, others hugged them for few minutes before they were led into a waiting KWSUBEB bus which conveyed them to their next destination.
…Back-to-back victory
Four public school pupils had represented the state in the just concluded presidential school debate championship.
For the record, Kwara had also won the last two editions of the speaking contest held in Lagos in 2021, with the winners similarly accorded a state reception by the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who showered cash rewards and awarded university scholarship to the deserving ones.
The victory in previous championship saw Kwara representing Nigeria at the International debate competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Sarbia in Europe, where they came second.
…Latest victory
For this year, the state was represented at the debate by 10-year-old Ajibulu Esther of Tanke LGEA Primary School B. Ilorin South local government area; 12-year-old Akanbi Al-Amin of St. Cyprian LGEA Primary School, Offa, Offa local government area; 12-year-old Paul Unity of Bishop Smith LGEA School A. Ilorin East local government area; and 12-year-old Abdulrahman Fatimoh of Okesuna LGEA Primary School A. in Ilorin East local government area.
Speaking to journalists shortly after receiving the team, Prof Adaramaja attributed their success story to the investment of Governor AbdulRazaq in basic education.
“Under our amiable leader, the father of basic education, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, everybody is encouraged, teachers are encouraged, pupils are encouraged with investment of Governor in basic education.
“See our classrooms, see the capacity of our teachers, there is motivation for everybody. if you see the zeal our pupils demonstrated, you will know that they are up to the task”, he said.
Asked what the state is doing differently that gave its contingents an edge over others, the KWSUBEB boss said the success of the pupils did not come to him as a surprise because they were adequately prepared for the competition.
Adaramaja said: “If you don’t want to fail, you have to practice. The students have been in camp since August, for a team to be kept in camp in three months and now expose them to a competition, they will beat other competitors.
“It is not surprising that the team beat Adamawa 3-0, we beat Imo 3-0, we beat Abia 3-0, we beat Anambra in semi-final 3-0 and eventually, we beat Benue 3-0 and we came with the trophy. We give glory to Almighty Allah.”
…Our experience, relives team leader
Recalling their experience, leader of the quartet, Abdulrahman Fatimoh, a Class 6 pupil of Okesuna LGEA Primary School A, said the conducive environment being provided by the present administration, efforts of their teachers and encouragement from SUBEB management, were some of the factors responsible for their success in the competition.
“When we were in camp, the chairman came around to see us , they gave us lectures and we practiced very well,” she said .
…Elated gov pats team on the back
Congratulating the team for doing the state proud, Governor AbdulRazaq recalled that Kwara was winning the trophy for the third time in a row under his watch, underscoring the steady progress in the basic education sector amid the commitments of school leaders, teachers, and parents.
He commended the pupils for their feat, which, the governor said, had put them in the national hall of fame like their senior counterparts, who not only emerged as national champions, but went ahead to compete strongly on the global stage.
“This feat, like the previous ones, serves to strengthen our commitment to continue to invest in public school education — the surest way to secure a place for the Kwara child among their peers worldwide.
“These feats reassure us that we are on the right path, and we thank our pupils, teachers, parents, and all stakeholders in the public school system for their hard work and support. Specifically, I thank Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja and his SUBEB team for their hard work. This, again, is another win for everyone, and we cannot drop the ball,” the governor said in a statement by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaiye.
…Signs of things to come
For watchers of development within the state’s education sector, it’s not a fluke that the state consistently wins the competition. Rather, they contend, it is a manifestation of the state government’s investment in basic education, as well as better days and signs of things to come from the public schools.
“Now a template has been set and Kwara is making a name in the area of basic education. With this, the government must ensure further push and target more education-related laurels. We can see clearly that there is hope in public schools notwithstanding the avalanche of private schools springing up here and there.
“For the KWSUBEB, it is my view that Adaramaja is making a difference, and deserves some level of commendation, even as Kwarans expect him to still do more”, said an analyst who craved anonymity.