AbdulRazaq rewards Kwara debate champions with ₦3m each

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has rewarded pupils and students from the state who excelled in national and international academic competitions, awarding each of them ₦3 million.

The governor announced the rewards on Monday while hosting four pupils who represented Kwara at the 2026 Presidential School Debate in Abuja, where they defeated Team Lagos by five points to one to emerge champions for the fifth consecutive time.

The victorious pupils are Halimoh Abdulazeez from Ilorin West Local Government Area, Khadija Kazeem from Offa, Omolola Ibrahim from Moro and Samaila Daniel from Ilorin East.

AbdulRazaq also honoured senior secondary school students who represented Nigeria at a competition in Kenya, where they finished as second runners-up, as well as another team that emerged first runners-up in the senior category of the Presidential School Debate held in Rivers State.

The students recognised for their performances include Moshood Muhammad Kamaldeen of Government Secondary School, Ilorin; Abdulazeez Abdulmutesir Destiny of St. Anthony School, Ilorin; Aisha Abdulazeez Semilore of Nawarul-Deen Secondary School, Offa; Mariam Usman Enyo and Masiah Olaniran of Ilorin Grammar School; Jatto Rahmatullahi Onise of Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin; Ayisat Muhammad Oyinkansola of Army Day Secondary School, Sobi, Ilorin; and Oluwadare of Bishop Smith Memorial College, Ilorin.

The governor commended the pupils and students for their hard work and outstanding performances, describing their achievements as evidence of the returns on his administration’s investment in education. He also awarded their coaches ₦1 million each in recognition of their contributions.

“There are many sectors competing for resources. But what you’re doing here shows that whatever we put in education is an investment, not just for now, but ultimately for the future of the state and for the future of Nigeria,” he said.

AbdulRazaq attributed the improved performance of public school pupils partly to the introduction of KwaraLEARN, his administration’s technology-driven teaching initiative, which he said had made public schools more competitive and encouraged more parents to enrol their children in them. He also commended the parents, teachers, coaches and schools for their sacrifices and commitment. Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, and the Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, said the administration’s investment in education was yielding positive results. Speaking on behalf of the debate champions, Halimoh Abdulazeez thanked the governor for recognising their achievements and investing in their education, while also acknowledging the contributions of their teachers, parents and coaches.