Felabration 2018 names winner of secondary school debate

Vivian Fowler Memorial College in Ikeja, Lagos came in second place and the third place winner was the Ipakodo Senior Grammar School in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The Felabration Secondary Schools Debates gives secondary school children a platform to debate national issues. The event, according to the organisers, is a way of “sensitising the youths to stand up to the call of patriotism.” This year, all of the participating schools were located in Lagos.

The event, which took place on 10 October, opened the 2018 Felabration festival and was held at Freedom Park, Lagos, where seven other schools had joined the winning trio in giving opinions on the topic, “State Police in Nigeria: To be or not to Be”. The debating teams included five public secondary schools and five privately owned ones. Speakers, said the judges, were graded based on their introduction, content, presentation and debating skills.

The first prize winner received a laptop and a mobile phone. The first and second runner-ups got a Samsung Galaxy and Techno Tablets respectively; they also received a phone each. All 10 participating schools went home with a piano each. All prizes were donated by the Felabration Organising Committee.

The main events of the 2018 Felabration begin on 15 October with a symposium at the NECA House in Ikeja, Lagos. Starting on the night of the symposium, a 7-day music-filled series of events will follow.

Along with discussing the topic this year, each secondary school contestant was also asked to speak on what they know of the late Afrobeat maestro, to whom the event is dedicated. Vivian Fowler Memorial College won this talk and won a cash prize of 20 000 naira ($55).

Other schools to participate this year include Baptist Academy, Obanikoro; Dr. Lucas College; Aunty Ayo International School, Ikoyi; Epe Girls Senior High School, Epe; Herbert Macaulay High School; Ajara Senior Secondary School; and Ejigbo Senior High School.

Following the debate, the Felabration Organising Committee named the West Africa editor of Music In Africa Oris Aigbokhaevbolo winner of the Felabration 2017 Award for Best Media Reports. The committee also unveiled a bust of Fela Anikulapo Kuti at Freedom Park.

A grinning bust of Fela now stands at an area of the park also hosting a bust of the great musician’s Nobel laureate cousin, Wole Soyinka.