A student of Osun State University, Osogbo, Malik Lawal, has emerged as the winner of the Prof. Rasaq ‘Deremi Abubakre Progressive Initiatives Essay Competition.
Lawal clinched the first position and received a cash prize of N150,000 and a Samsung tablet at the grand finale of the competition held in Osogbo.
Ganiyu Odunola of Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, came second and received N100,000 and a Samsung tablet, while Yakub Opeyemi of the University of Ilorin finished third to win N75,000 and a Samsung tablet.
Delivering the keynote address, pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, urged students to pursue academic excellence without compromising integrity.
He said success was built on determination and good character, stressing that education alone was insufficient without moral values.
“Nothing is ever achieved without determination. Character is also important. If you learn without character, you will only become a smart devil. Education will take you far, but your character will keep you there,” Adedimeji said.
Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of Prof. Rasaq ‘Deremi Abubakre Progressive Initiatives, Yekeen Abilagbo, commended the participants for the quality of their entries.
The retired diplomat, however, said the education sector in Osun State had yet to witness the level of progress expected under the current administration.
He added that, beyond the prizes presented to the top three winners, all contestants would receive cash rewards in appreciation of their participation.
Explaining the selection process, the chairman of the initiative’s Education Committee and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Offa, Kwara State, Prof. Kazeem Gbolagade, said 44 students submitted entries for the competition.
He disclosed that three contestants scored 77 per cent during the initial assessment, making an oral presentation necessary to determine the overall winner.
“At the end of the screening, we discovered that three of the students scored 77 per cent. For fairness, which is our hallmark, the top three were subjected to oral presentations to determine the first, second and third positions,” Gbolagade said.
