By: Lawal Blessing Olajumoke
The Great Fellows Club, The Polythecnic, Ibadan staged an Inter-tertiary speech contest on the 27th of March, 2024 at the Assembly Hall, North Campus of the Institution.
The contest had the following schools as participants; Federal College of Animal Health, University of Ibadan, Federal Colledge of Forestry, Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytecnic, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Lead City University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and the host institution, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
At the commencement of the event, the anchors, MC Ife and Lady Shauda, introduced dignitaries on the high table, from the Dean of Students Affairs, Mr. Makinde John, Deputy Registrar, Mrs. F.B. Akintunde, the Students Union President Comr. Oyekan Tobiloba Emmanuel, present and past student leaders of the Institution, NANS Zone D representatives, NAPS Southwest, NFSAN, NSLC, and various Indigenous National Bodies were duly represented.
In the Club President’s speech, GF Oloyede Oluwaferanmi Victor gave insight into the theme of the event; “Unpacking The Complex Global Oil Inflation: Nigeria’s Fuel Subsidy Removal”.
The theme speaker Dr. Oyekunle Oluseye Oyewo, who is also the Head of Department of Public Administration Department, The Polythecnic, Ibadan, spoke on the theme of the programme. He stated that; Oil has become the major source of revenue in the country, and the complete removal of subsidy is a major contributor to the hike in prices of food items and other commodities in the country.
After the theme speaker’s speech, the programme proceeded to the highlight event of the day, which was the speech contest. The judges of the contest were; Dr. Agboola O.S. (Chief Judge), Dr. Oyekunle Oluseya Oyewo, Dr. Abiodun Adeguyi – Deputy Registrar Counseling Unit, Student Affairs, The Polytechnic, Ibadan and the time keeper, Com. Ayanboade Kehinde.
The speech contest kicked off with the first speaker from Federal College of Animal Health. The seven other represented institutions took turns to speak in two rounds each, on the topic; “Fuel subsidy removal and the cost of living in Nigeria”. All the eight schools represented, gave excellent delivery of their arguments.
After a thorough contest, the Chief Judge, Dr. Agboola O.S. announced the scores: LAUTECH had 92 points, to take the third place, Lead City University had 93 points, which had them in the second place, and The Polythecnic, Ibadan emerged the winner of the contest with 96 points.
While speaking with our correspondence, Akinwale Peter Olamiposi from HND 1 Mass Communication Department, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, remarked that he never sees Public Speaking as a difficult task, but rather an activity he does with ease. On the other hand, Oluloro Emmanuel from Accountancy department opined that every success comes with challenges, but he thanked God that they emerged as winners of the contest.
The Great Fellows Club’s President, GF Oloyede Oluwaferanmi, in an interaction with the Press Council, appreciated God Almighty making the event a great success, also their sponsors and the representatives of The Polytechnic, Ibadan for their commitment to bringing home the gold medal.
