Queens College Defeats Nine Others, Retains Eloquence Cup

Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, has won the 2021 edition of the School of Eloquence yearly competition for senior secondary schools in the state.

The competition, which was usually between two schools, returned to accommodate 10 schools this year having witnessed a year break due to the 2020 pandemic.

In this year’s Eloquence Cup competition, the queens collegel defeated nine others to retain the cup, which they won in 2019.

In the individual category, the duo of Esther Eze and Oluwakemi Lawal of Queens College emerged winner and first runner up respectively, while Ude Arinze Goodluck of Kings College, Lagos, was second runner up.

Eze smiled home with a laptop, the second prize winner got a tab, while the third was rewarded with exotic stationery and a school bag.

Similarly, the first of the Breakout speaker, Adjete Happiness of Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege, got cash reward of N25, 000, while the second, Samuel Bakare of State Senior High School, Oyewole, Agege, got N15, 000.

Founder of the school, Ubong Essien, lauded the participating schools, saying, participants by their actions, have given hope that in the next 15 to 20 years, the nation’s democracy will have deepened with lawmakers driven by quality and robust dialogue, based on the eloquence.

Essien, while noting that the contest coincided with the 15th anniversary of the School of Eloquence, added: “In 15 years, we have done a fantastic job of teaching the act of public speaking to our secondary schools.”

He further stated that the school is evolving and growing to develop into an institution.

“Our aspiration is for it to go national so don’t be surprised that in 2023, you have the Eloquence Cup in Lagos and Abuja,” he added.

The Registrar, Patience Essien, in her remarks said the school has grown from strength to strength in the last 15 years of its existence.

Before the competition kicked off, some old students educated contestants on career guidance, attitude, protecting the girl-child and the need to imbibe reading culture.

The event, which was witnessed by two members of the school board,  Seyi Sowemimo (SAN) and Tonye Unuigbe, came to end with the cutting of the school’s anniversary cake.