The Lagos State Government has rewarded winners of an adult quiz competition organised by the Office of the Special Adviser on Education and Agency for Mass Education with a promise that it will continue to use adult education to boost the overall development of the State in particular and the country at large.

Speaking at the event held at the Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Special Adviser on Education, Dr. Shamsideen Allison maintained that education remains a vital tool for achieving development, saying that the government remains focused in its determination to achieve a 97 per cent literacy rate in the State.

He recalled that in 2016, the number of adult literacy learning centres in the State was 532 but with government commitment, it has increased to 1,142 centres within three years.

Dr. Allison stated that the annual quiz competition was aimed at evaluating the performance of the students, boost their self-confidence, test their knowledge about the State government’s programmes and policies and also identify areas of learning that need improvement.

He urged the students to be keen on improving themselves, stressing that participating in such quiz competition was not for the purpose of emerging winners alone but more importantly to improve their communication skills and level of confidence.

He, therefore, enjoined those who have not embraced the programme to do so because it is never too late to learn and attain one’s dream.

Dr. Allison explained that the “Eko N’ Kekoo” meaning “Lagos is Learning” was designed by the State government to give people at the grassroots a second chance to education thereby empowering them to become more enlightened and better-informed about happenings within and outside their communities.

He thanked Chairmen of all the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the State for their unwavering support in mobilising residents at the grassroots to participate in the programme.

The Director, Agency for Mass Education, Mrs. Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, in her remarks at the event, disclosed that over 20,000 adults are trained yearly by the agency through the various learning centres in the State.

According to her, the agency is working in line with the government’s vision of attaining a Lagos Smart City dream where illiteracy rate in the State would be drastically reduced.

Kalesanwo noted that the quiz competition, on one hand, showcases the efforts of the agency while the gifts won by the contestants will also encourage and motivate others to join literacy centres across the State.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Ganiyu Sopeyin represented by, Mrs. Ajimati Foluso, congratulated the students for being part of the State’s success story in the area of education, noting that the competition, held in English and Yoruba languages, started with 10 contestants each with questions ranging from Mathematics, English Language, General Studies and Spelling.

The winners of the English quiz competition were Kate Charles from Land of Success, Ibereko Learning Centre, Badagry; Suwebat Muritala of Rotary Wheel Learning Centre, Oniwaya, Agege and Idris Damilola of Methodist Primary School Learning Centre, Ikorodu while the winners of Yoruba quiz competition were Adetola Mojisola of Agboyi Ketu Learning Centre; Onigbinde Idowu from Montana Ikola Learning Centre and Ajayi Olusola of Awobo Learning Centre in Ikorodu.