The Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation has called on individuals and corporate bodies to complement the efforts of the government in developing the primary education sector in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the foundation, Mr Richard Uwayzor, stated this on Thursday, at the grand finale of the third edition of the MAMF Creative Challenge.
The event, with the theme, “Inspiring Innovation Through Education and Creativity,” was held at Ijaola Majekodunmi Memorial Building, Ajitadun, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Mr Uwayzor said, “At this very basic of education, the minds of these children are still very fresh, it is their formative years and their brains are also open to great ideas, so any investment that will help catch them young and provide a very strong foundation and sense of direction for a great future deserves the support of all.”
Over 300 public primary schools across the state were said to have submitted entries for the competition, out of which 30 schools participated in the first stage from which 15 finalists emerged for the grand finale.
Oguntade Hassan from Odeda Local Government Primary School emerged as the overall best, winning a cash prize of N250,000.
Toriola Fridaus from Methodist Primary School, Ago Oko, Abeokuta, came second and received a reward of N150,000, while Farombi John from Muslim Model Nursery and Primary School, Ago Oko, Abeokuta, came third and got 100,000.
Speaking on the essence of the educational intervention, Uwayzor said the competition provided a good platform for the kids to express their creativity, develop their critical thinking skills and boost their self-confidence.
He said “The truth is that there are a lot of hidden talents among the pupils of public schools in the state, but platforms like this provide opportunities to express themselves and get spotted for rewards and scholarships to go higher in their studies.
“Catching them young from primary to secondary schools is helpful here because these are their formative years.
“So we must double our investment in this sector of the education. It will help to prepare a solid foundation for a great future for these kids and help resolve the challenges of social vices.”
Uwayzor urged the pupils to take their studies seriously and never feel inferior to their colleagues attending private schools.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, lauded MAMF for partnering with the government to give the children a solid foundation for a brighter tomorrow.
Prof Arigbabu, represented by the Deputy Director of Education from the ministry, Okeleye Olarotimi, said the competition would no doubt help to sharpen the pupils’ skills in storytelling, and critical thinking and develop a creative mind which is a powerful tool in problem-solving, among others.
He congratulated the participants for their resilience, courage and display of academic brilliance, adding that the government remained committed to putting in place policies and projects that would aid qualitative education and put the children in good stead for a better future.
He said, “As we applaud the winners today, let us remember that every idea matters, every voice counts, and every spark of creativity can light the way to something extraordinary.
“I encourage all of you winners and participants alike to continue to dream, to create, and to challenge the status quo even as you remain the pride of our dear state and your parents in no distant future,” he said.
