Rainbow College, Surulere, Lagos, has emerged the winner of this year’s FELABRATION Secondary Schools Debates. At the event held inside Freedom Park, Lagos, Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Ikeja, Lagos came second while the third place winner is the Ipakodo Senior Grammar School, Ikorodu.
This year’s topic of debate was, “STATE POLICE IN NIGERIA; TO BE OR NOT TO BE”. Ten secondary schools participated in the Wednesday October 10, 2018, finals, which included five public secondary schools and five privately owned ones. Contestants were judged on the following parameters; introduction, content, presentation and debating skills.
The first prize winner went home with one laptop and a mobile phone, while the second and the third got a Samsung Galaxy and Techno Tablets respectively plus a phone each. However, all the 10 participating schools went home with a piano each. All prizes were donated by the FELABRATION ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
FELABRATION Secondary Schools Debates is a segment of the FELABRATION FESTIVAL, where Secondary Schools children are given a platform to argue and debate some burning national issues. It is FELABRATION’S way of sensitising the youths to stand up to the call of patriotism. FELA’S biggest constituency was the younger generation.
This year, apart from the top three schools, Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos, Dr. Lucas College, Aunty Ayo International School, Ikoyi, Lagos, Epe Girls Senior High School, Epe, Lagos, also contested. Others were Herbert Macaulay High School, Ajara Senior Secondary School and Ejigbo Senior High School, all in Lagos.
This year’s event for the first time, introduced some new segment. Contestants were required to give a talk on what they know of FELA.
Vivian Fowler Memorial College won the maiden edition of this aspect, with a (N20,000) twenty thousand naira only, cash gift.
The SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ DEBATES thereby flagged off the FELABRATION 2018 Festival. The main events begin on October 15, 2018, with a symposium at the NECA HOUSE IKEJA, LAGOS, which will dovetail into the 7-day music concerts beginning in the evening of same day.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Founder/Executive Producer Yeni Kuti and Chairman FELABRATION ORGANISING COMMITTEE, Theo Lawson, reiterated the fundamental ideals of the FESTIVAL; celebration of the life, times and music of FELA ANIKULAPO-KUTI.
