A non-governmental organization, Mafoya Oluwanbe Foundation has disclosed that it is set to organize its annual literary and debate competition for secondary school students in Oyo state.
Mr Olusegun Agboola, the coordinator of the foundation, disclosed this during a press conference with newsmen on Wednesday, in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
He stated that Oyo state has a large percentage of out of school children in the Southwest and the government cannot do everything in the aspect of education. Hence, it is important for the organizations to help through organizing competitions like this.
His words: “We discovered that Oyo state has the highest number of school children and children who are not even going to school compared to other southwestern states due to the economy of the country. Though the current administration in Oyo state is working and has been able to increase the number of children in school through some initiatives. We believe more children can return to school because education is the principal thing.
“We have always been discussing with the State Governor on ways of improving the state education. The government is already taking some good steps and it is seeing positive results in that regard. We have gone around and we have seen that the condition of the schools is very bad; children are not interested in going to school. These are the areas that we see and there are many of such interventions that we have identified.”
Agboola stated that the organization is always willing to promote education in the state, part of which includes organization of literary and debate competitions which is set to hold soon in the state.
He said further: “In our own bid to eradicate illiteracy and ignorance in the state through language, we shall be organizing again our literary and debate organizations in the secondary schools in the state, which will be opened to all schools and students that are interested.
“We are speaking with the Oyo State Ministry of Education so that we can have the debates in both English and Yoruba languages. The winners of the competitions will be rewarded with scholarships while the schools will be rewarded with the establishment of ICT with equipment and an electronic library.”
Agboola also stated that the competition is opened to sponsorship and partnership to ensure the success of the program.
The foundation which was initiated by Late Chief Ezekiel Amoo Agboola has since been focusing on the education, health and empowerment of the people.
