The Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation (DAFF) has yet again demonstrated its commitment to the education of the younger people in the Ibarapa region of Oyo State by maintaining its annual sponsorship of the Ibarapa Debate Competition, the biggest educational event in the geopolitical zone of Oyo State.
The Ibarapa Debate Competition is an annual educational event designed to nurture academic excellence and inspire secondary school students across the Ibarapa region of Oyo State to prioritise their educational development through constructive, incentive-driven competition.
The initiative, which commenced in 2019, traditionally takes place during the New Year festivities, enabling students to maximize their Christmas/New Year break for meaningful academic engagement. It features a two-phase structure: screening rounds and the grand finale, spanning from September to January.
The competition accommodates two categories: a debate segment for senior secondary students and a quiz segment for junior students. Over the years, several participants have secured scholarship opportunities from reputable organisations. Foremost among these organisations is the Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation, which has consistently awarded scholarships to outstanding debaters in the grand finale of the competition in the last five years.
Over the last seven years of promoting academic excellence, the Ibarapa Debate Competition has evolved into the biggest and most anticipated educational event in Ibarapa land, one that fosters a culture of intellectual excellence and community pride.
Every year, financial commitments exceeding ₦3,000,000 are expended on the initiative through the collective generosity of Ibarapa indigenes in the diaspora and reputable foundations across Nigeria.
The Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation is a non-governmental and non-political organisation aimed at projecting the Ibarapa region to the world by identifying talents and enabling people in the region to achieve their full potential through a series of initiatives ranging from sports, education, scholarships, seminars, etc.
The foundation is owned by the award-winning real estate mogul, Mr. Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi.
Speaking with the organisation on Thursday, December 11, 2025, Mr. Akinjide made a pledge of one million naira (N1,000,000), commending Peoples Conscience for the bold step it takes annually to gather the younger generation in Ibarapa Land under one roof to discuss issues pertinent to their career growth.
Recall that the Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation extends scholarship offers to outstanding participants every year, a promise the organisation has kept for various beneficiaries in different universities under its scholarship scheme over the years.
Having successfully held the intellectual competition for secondary school students in both public and private schools for six years, the next edition of the initiative focuses on celebrating heroes and heroines in Ibarapa Land.
According to the organisaation in its press statement of October 16, 2025, the move is one of the efforts of the organisation to achieve one of its mandates, which is also to celebrate those who have made indelible marks in the region and to register their accomplishments in the minds of the younger ones in the region so that they get inspired, be responsible and responsive towards the development of Ibarapa Land from a young age till they get old, a lifestyle demonstrated by the soon-to-be-published revered heroes.
According to Mr. Oluseun Ogunlana, who is the Chairman of Peoples Conscience, “Though the individuals to be celebrated are no more, their legacy lives on.”
In his own words, Mr. Hassan Adesodi Olaoniye, who is the Convener of Ibarapa Debate Competition, acknowledged the support of Ibarapa indigenes at home and abroad. According to him, it has been seven years of constant academic services to the people of Ibarapa Land, appreciating DAFF for sharing in the vision of a better and prosperous society through education.
Assuring the people of the region, Janet Omeiza-Ogaji, PhD, who is the Head of Educational Services of Ibarapa Debate Competition, maintained that the next edition of the initiative promises to be fun-filled, as the 2026 edition comes with a lot of features that further justify the initiative being the biggest educational gathering in Ibarapa Land.
You can get every of our news as soon as they drop on WhatsApp ...To get all news updates, Join our WhatsApp Group (Click Here)
