The Anti-Corruption Debate for Secondary Schools organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State has been won by State College, Ikot Ekpene.
The competition, keenly contested by eight secondary schools selected by the state’s Ministry of Education from the three senatorial zones of Akwa Ibom State was the first of its kind in the state. It featured persuasive articulation of points, brilliant elocution, and captivating oratory by the participating students.
Mr. Justin Kuatsea of the Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Department (CMED), who represented the Commission at the event, commended the students’ performance and declared that the competition was achieving its aim as it was designed to engage the youths actively in the anti-corruption crusade.
He further said that the programme was aimed at engaging the students intellectually in providing solutions to the problem of corruption in Nigeria and encourage non-violent revolution against corruption.
Mr. Kuatsea charged the students to see the competition as an avenue for impacting on their “generation” while embracing the spirit of sportsmanship.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner of Education, Pastor Paul Udofia who was represented by the Director in charge of Secondary Schools and Higher Education in the Ministry, Barr. Theresa Attih, expressed the hope that the debate would activate the reading habit in students.
He therefore urged the students to always take reading seriously whether they had an upcoming competition or not.
He praised ICPC for the initiative and pledged the support of his Ministry towards anti-corruption crusade in schools especially in Akwa-Ibom State.
At the end of the event, Government Secondary School, Afaha-Eket, came second while Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron and Aka Model Secondary School, Aka Offot came third and fourth respectively.