Ilorin: The Aliyu Olamilekan Bello Foundation (AOB Foundation) has engaged nine secondary schools in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara in quiz and debate programmes to awaken greatness in them.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the quiz and debate competition held at the Sheikh Abdulsalaam Secondary School has its theme as ‘A Win for Us’.
Convener of the foundation, Aliyu Bello, said the foundation’s initiative was born from a simple belief that no child in Ilorin South should feel small because of their background. Bello highlighted that the competition was not just about questions and answers, but about telling every child that they are the new generation and our hope. He emphasized that it is a movement from the grassroots, streets, homes, and schools to the future of Kwara and Nigeria.
Bello stressed the importance of investing in these children, stating, “If we don’t invest in these children now, tomorrow will ask us questions we cannot answer. When we educate a child, we don’t just teach ABC, we build confidence, courage, and leaders.” He explained that the theme of the competition, ‘A Win for Us’, signifies that when one child wins, the community wins, when a school rises, Kwara rises, and when knowledge grows, poverty reduces.
He acknowledged the foundation’s pride in standing on the shoulders of great leaders who believe in youth and education, from President Bola Tinubu to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the youth-driven inspiration, Seyi Tinubu. Bello remarked, “Their belief in young people reminds us that leadership is about lifting others. But true change does not start in Abuja, it starts here.”
Bello announced that the competition, which is in its first edition, would hold every six months to reinforce the can-do spirit in the students. For the quiz and debate competition, Bollywilly College came first, while Musab Islamic College came second, and United Secondary School was placed third.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first three schools would share N500,000 among themselves, while the other six participating schools were gifted N5,000 each. The other schools that participated include Government Day Secondary School, Gaa Akanbi, Minaret Comprehensive High School, Sango Senior Secondary School, Sheikh Abdul Salaam Secondary School, Ansarul Islam Secondary School, and Government Day Secondary School Tanke.