14-Year-Old Kehinde Osibamowo Wins Jendol Annual Debate Championship

• Ajegunle Senior High School student awarded ₦1 million and a university scholarship

The Jendol Annual Debate Championship came to an exciting conclusion this week as 14-year-old Kehinde Osibamowo of Ajegunle Senior High School triumphed, taking home over ₦1 million in cash prizes and a scholarship to any university of her choice. The victory also earned Osibamowo’s teacher a ₦100,000 cash prize.

The event, which celebrates the talents of students from Lagos State’s public secondary schools, saw a powerful message from Dr. Mark Akhabue, CEO and Managing Director of Jendol Superstores.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Akhabue urged students to utilize the various opportunities the Lagos State government is giving them, especially in the basic education aspect.

Dr. Akhabue said the initiative was specifically targeted at public secondary schools, while the final debate topic, centered on Artificial Intelligence (AI), is the new way to go.

“This debate is a deliberate effort targeted at public secondary schools. We want to show that there are giants in public schools who have magic in them, and there are talents in these schools. AI is here to stay, and we urge the students to utilize it positively,” he said.

He also commended the collaboration between the Lagos State government and other stakeholders doing everything possible to bring education to the forefront of their concerns.

The event also saw a speech from Mr. Oluwaseun Awojumobi, representing the Director of Co-curricular, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

He assured attendees that the Lagos State government is making substantial investments in AI to ensure it becomes a beneficial tool for students.

“He emphasized that the Lagos State government is also investing heavily in it. There is a necessity to invest in AI, and the Lagos State government is investing heavily in AI, while also doing everything possible to bring the cautious use of AI into fruition, and the dividends would soon be witnessed,” Awojumobi said.

The competition, which began with over 350 participants from 200 public secondary schools across Lagos State education districts I, II, III, IV, and VI, narrowed to six finalists.

The final debate focused on the topic: “Students below 18 years should be restricted from using AI-powered technologies to prevent cybercrimes and foster critical thinking.”

14-year-old Osibamowo Kehinde from Ajegunle Senior High School, Kosofe, clinched the top spot in the debate, winning ₦500,000 in cash, an additional ₦500,000, and a scholarship to any university of her choice.

“I aspire to become a dermatologist to help save lives and empower black women to embrace their natural, melanin-rich skin,” Osibamowo shared after the event. She explained that her interest in dermatology stemmed from a personal tragedy—the loss of a family member to skin cancer caused by bleaching.

In recognition of her achievements, Osibamowo, along with the five other finalists, also secured an ambassadorship deal with Alat by WEMA Bank.

The past winner, Gabriel Ajani from Surulere Secondary School, Alagbado, who won the maiden edition of the competition last year, told The Guardian that he felt good when he won, and dropping the baton now is a joyful thing to him. “Once a champion, always a champion,” Ajani said.

Professor Bolarinwa Bamidele, Chairman of the Panel of Judges, praised the generous contribution of Jendol Superstores, urging other organizations to follow suit and invest in educational initiatives that foster intellectual growth, such as the Jendol Annual Debate Championship. He also lauded both the students and their teachers for their outstanding displays of intellect and eloquence, highlighting the exceptional standard of competition.

The event was made possible through a partnership between Jendol Superstores and the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, with additional support from WEMA Bank, Moniepoint, and FruityLife Nigeria. Mr. Lateef Fatoye, Chief Executive of Latee World, presented the winner, Osibamowo Kehinde, and the second runner-up, Rhoda Aluko, with a scholarship to any university of their choice.

“Programs like this should be done and made public by investors, as they are directly relevant to the development of our students,” Fatoye remarked.

Mrs. Oluwakemi Akhabue, Executive Director of Jendol Superstores, praised all the finalists, noting that the knowledge gained through preparation for the debate was valuable regardless of the final placement. “All the finalists are winners regardless of the position they emerge in, and they must have acquired more knowledge when reading for the debate,” she said.

Looking ahead, Mr. Soleye Ayodele, Head of Stock Control at Jendol Superstores and a member of the JADC 2024 panel of judges and planning committee, promised that future editions of the debate would be bigger and better.

“This year, we covered five out of the six education districts in Lagos State. We are going to cover all the districts in the next edition,” Ayodele said.

The Jendol Annual Debate Championship, now in its second season, continues to spotlight the incredible potential of students in Lagos State’s public schools, inspiring both youth and educators alike.

See photos below: