By Edith Igbokwe
The students, who emerged winners at the Essay Writing competition organised by People First Initiative (PFI), a non Governmental Organisation (NGO), were duly awarded for their outstanding performances in the competition.
No fewer than 10 students who submitted their forms out of 45 who obtained the forms across Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area participated in the maiden edition of the essay competition held at Mafoluku, Oshodi.
At the end of the competition, Raqeeb Ogunbayo, an SS2 student of Model Senior College, Meiran, made the first position; Babatunde Salisu, an SS1 student of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School emerged second while AbdulQayum Abdulquadri, an SS1 student of Ikhwan College, Aviation Estate, Mafoluku Oshodi.
Each of the winners received a plaque award and cash prize of N5,000, N 3,000 and N2,000 in the order of first, second and third positions respectively.
Addressing the participants, the guest speaker, a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Safety Advocate Personnel, Hamzat Sanni, encouraged the students to always work harder despite their backgrounds and challenges to excellent in their academics.
He said they have to defy all odds to make it in life, saying whatever they become in life is all about choices but not chances.
“Students should make a good choice of what they want in life and be confident without looking at their poor backgrounds or the situation in which they find themselves.”
Presenting the awards to the winners, the PFI team leader, Amidu Arije, said the cash prize was a token to appreciate and encourage the students’ efforts.
He advised other participants who did not win not to lose hope but to buckle up in their studies for other competitions to come.
He explained that the NGO had earlier organised free training for the students on essay writing and communcation skills for three weeks before organising the essay writing competition.
“During the lockdown, we were able to train over 40 students on Essay writing and communication skills. This was held online for three weeks.
“It was followed by Essay writing competition. Unfortunately, not many of the students that participated in the online training submitted entry for the competition. However, we are not discouraged because we know that values are no longer placed in education and morals, these gaps we want to bridge.”
He informed that the NGO, as one of its cardinal mission, would soon embark on distribution of educational materials such as text books, exercise book, pens, sandals and uniforms among others to the students in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area as a way of contributing to the society.
