Nigeria has won the 2018 edition of the International Oldham Cup Debate Competition organised by the Anglo-Chinese Junior College Debate and Oratorical Society in Singapore.

Prof. Yahaya Yero, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), disclosed this on Thursday in Bauchi, at a reception organised by the board for the Nigerian officials and participants at the competition.

Yero said that the participants, who represented the country in a four-day long debate were drawn from five junior secondary schools in Bauchi State.

According to him, the students who defeated their counterparts from China, Hong Kong, India, Korea and Taiwan.

The students were Rashida Dauda, Maryam Yau and Hamidu Aliyu from Dass, Jama’are and Bauchi Local Government Areas respectively.

Others were Abdulbari Yahaya and Hassan Abdul-Hassan from Bauchi and Shira Local Government Areas respectively.

“These students were selected and groomed for two weeks in the state, following a letter from the President, Schools Debate, Abuja, for the state to present participants for the competition.

“The five students were selected out of the 40 students who were earlier sent to the board by chairmen of the 20 local government councils in the state.

“This single act by the students from the northern part of the country will correct the wrong impression that the north is backward in terms of education and that our children are not keen and willing to learn.

“The non-participation of northerners in previous years was due to lack of opportunity given to our students to partake in such events.

“However, today is the happiest moment in my life because our children have shown the world that we are capable and that when given the opportunity, we will excel,” Yero said.

As a result of this impressive feat, Yero said he had been directed to prepare the participants for another international competition coming up this year in Sri Lanka.

He commended the Federal Government for giving the state such opportunity to represent the country and gave an assurance that the state government would support them to excel.

“I also commend the contingent, comprising of 11 students and officials, for their efforts.

“The board will groom more students for future competitions.

“We will not relent in bequeathing the best education to our children to enable them to excel,” Yero said.

While presenting the trophy to the chairman of the board, the Secretary, Alhaji Mahmud Kari, also commended the participants for their efforts.

Kari, who is also the supervisor of the contingent, assured the participants that the board ensure to ensure their participation in the next competition.

Responding on behalf of the participants, Abdulbari Yahaya thanked the federal and state governments for giving them the opportunity to participate.

He promised that they would excel in the forthcoming competition billed for Sri Lanka later this year. (NAN)

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