Strong writing skills and academic excellence paid off for Malik Lawal, a student of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), who emerged winner of the Prof. Rasaq ‘Deremi Abubakre Progressive Initiatives Essay Competition.
Lawal claimed the top prize of ₦150,000 and a Samsung tablet at the grand finale of the competition held in Osogbo.
Ganiyu Odunola of Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, finished second to receive ₦100,000 and a Samsung tablet, while Yakub Opeyemi of the University of Ilorin came third, winning ₦75,000 and a Samsung tablet.
Delivering the keynote address, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, encouraged students to pursue academic excellence without sacrificing integrity.
According to him, success is built on determination and good character, noting that education alone is not enough without strong 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 the Prof. Rasaq ‘Deremi Abubakre Progressive Initiatives, Yekeen Abilagbo, praised participants for the quality of their essays.
The retired diplomat, however, said the education sector in Osun State had not recorded the level of progress he expected under the current administration.
He also announced that every contestant would receive a cash reward, in addition to the prizes awarded to the top three winners, in recognition of their participation.
Explaining how the winners emerged, the Chairman of the initiative’s Education Committee and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Offa, Prof. Kazeem Gbolagade, revealed that 44 students submitted entries for the competition.
He said three contestants initially scored 77 per cent, 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.
Beyond the cash prizes and gadgets, the competition highlighted the value of strong writing, critical thinking and character—qualities that can open doors for students both in school and beyond.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.