OtelaJa Ayanfeoluwa, a CMS Grammar School Bariga student, on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) emerged as the Overall Winner of the ‘Ethical Living’ Essay Competition sponsored by the African Capital Alliance Foundation (ACAF).

At the grand finale of the Project which took place at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Oseni Aaqibah Akorede of Akande Dahunsi Memorial High School, Osborne, Lagos, and Ogunlowo Ayomide of Boys’ Senior Academy, Lagos clinched the first and second runners up positions respectively.

The winners were given cash awards and ICT devices from the organizers and were publicly honoured and celebrated. The winners were among the finalists after their essays were thoroughly reviewed and assessed by certified experts drawn from educational specialized institutions. The finalists made presentations and highlighted their learning experiences.

Three Hundred and Fifty Three (353) students from ten (10) selected schools approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Education participated in the essay writing competition titled “My Role as a Youth and the Strategies I Will Deploy in Creating a More Ethical, Just, and Equitable Society”.

The Chairman of the African Capital Alliance Foundation (ACAF), Dr. Okey Enelamah, in his remarks, said that it is essential for a society to instill and invest in ethical values especially as the world faces various challenges.

According to him, to make a lasting impact, ethical values should become our daily life, stating that ‘We can only receive transformative power when we make an ethical living as a mantra’

He advised that It is daily choices that make a good society adding that ‘the value you build today will save you tomorrow. The youths have the power to save the society’.

‘We need to foster an environment that fosters ethical standards. At the African Capital Alliance Foundation, we are moved by the concept of a good society where people take responsible actions daily”, he added.

Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, an educationist and former Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, in her keynote address titled ‘The Transformative Power of Ethical Living’ said that a nation must make conscious decisions to do the right thing at the right time in all circumstances.

She admonished that the present generation has no choice but to be better if we are to have a better tomorrow, stating that ‘the youth has the power to take us out of the situation we are in now’.

‘Ethical living affects the world. Society will benefit from you as you try to do your best always. Live above others and you will build a society where all will be happy”, she stressed.

Michael Ajayi, the Country Director of Enactus, the implementing partner of the Ethical Living Project, said that the programme’s focus is all about inculcating the values of ethical-decision making in Nigerian youth.

He explained that social vices such as corruption, bribery, selfishness, and cybercrimes are prevalent in the society today because of lack of ethics, values, and morals, advising the participants in the project to apply daily what they have learned.

According to him, the Foundation’s vision is to raise a new generation of Nigerians who will champion ideals that make a great nation.

Ajayi noted that the project ‘is deliberate and built out of necessity to transform Nigerian youth and make them become change agents to transform the nation by embracing the highest standards in all they do’.

“It is a commitment to the growth and development of the youth by building their capacity and national growth’, noted.

He advised Nigerian youths to shun social vices and embrace learning and education through which they will have a brighter future.

Country Director of Enactus, Partners to the African Capital Alliance Foundation on the Project explained that the process that culminated in the emergence of the winners passed the integrity test and commended the partners and other stakeholders who played a role in the process.

Nigerian industry leaders, top government functionaries, education stakeholders, social impact institutions, and development agencies attended the event described as very impactful and capable of redirecting the energy of Nigerian youths to the promotion of excellence in all spheres of life.

•PHOTO: L-R: Professor of Business Ethics, Pan Atlantic University, Prof. Juan Elegido; Chairman, African Capital Alliance, Dr. Okey Enelamah; Grand Winner of Ethical Living Easy Competition, Ayanfeoluwa Otelaja of CMS Grammar School Bariga, Lagos; Country Director, Enactus Nigeria, Michael Ajayi; and Former Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo during the African Capital Alliance Foundation Ethical Living Project Awards Ceremony held in Lagos.

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