Community Secondary School (CSS), Ekeremor has emerged as the overall winner in the Grand Finale of the 2024/2025 Schools Debate contest, while Government Comprehensive Secondary School (GCSS), Tungbo, clinched second position, and Government Model Secondary School (GMSS), Twon-Brass, and Community Secondary School (CSS), Kolo, came in third and fourth positions, respectively.

In her opening remarks at the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Press Centre, Ekeki, in Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary,  Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF), Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Atuwo, expressed delight for the production of the second edition of the Grand Finale of the Statewide Schools Debate programme. According to her, the initiation of the programme was aimed at enhancing academic excellence as well as ensuring critical thinking and effective communication in the school system.

The Executive Secretary further explained that, the EDTF was poised to promote quality education, noting that, the Schools Debate programme was an essential component towards achieving the set objectives of the government and the Trust Fund, stating that, it would empower children to become great leaders in the world. Dr. Atuwo used the opportunity to commend the House Committee Chairman on Education, the Honourable Commissioner of Education, as well as the educational agencies for identifying with the EDTF programmes and the cordial working relationship existing among them.  She applauded the participants of the programme for their hard work, passion, and dedication towards learning while, urging them to make the best use of the knowledge acquired to positively impart on their schools, communities, and the society at large.

In his remarks, the House Committee Chairman, Bayelsa State House of Assembly (BYHA), Dr. Charles Daniel, expressed appreciation and lauded the EDTF for their initiatives towards sustaining the programme with the aim of improving the standard of education in the State. The lawmaker also commended the leadership of EDTF as well as other educational stakeholders for the synergy and teamwork towards achieving the set goals and objectives of the government in the educational sector. He lauded the participants for their outstanding performance while, admonishing them to take advantage of the programme and study more seriously to acquire the needed skills to enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts in the world as well as to write their name in the annals of history.  Dr. Charles appealed to parents and guidance to take their children’s education very seriously to enable them to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to better themselves and the society.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, expressed gratitude to the EDTF for sustaining the programme as well as their painstaking efforts and support towards the upgrading of the standard of education in the State. He rewarded the schools that came first, second, third and fourth position with a Cash gift