A Professor of Agricultural Extension and Communication, AEC at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Professor Oluwole Akinnagbe has stepped up his passion for community development through his non-governmental Organization, the Graceland Foundation For Human Development with its Annual Quiz Competition for selected secondary schools in Ondo State.
In the competition which was held on 29th January 2025, to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the foundation, at the Theodore Francis Idibiye Auditorium, FUTA, students from St. Louis Grammar School Akure came first with the maximum of 30 points having successfully answered all 15 questions posed to them on current affairs, mathematics, and English. The students of Manuwa Memorial Grammar School, Iju-Odo were the first runner-up with 24 points and students of Aquinas College, Akure emerged as second runner-up with 23 points.
Professor Akinnagbe said the quiz competition “is a testament to the organisation’s value and vision to foster human development and also encourage young people to imbibe positive competitive spirit and learn about their environment and showcase their grasp of subjects being learned.” According to him “The quiz competition is not just a test of knowledge, but a celebration of curiosity, critical thinking, and the spirit of learning. It brings together some of the brightest young minds from selected secondary schools across Ondo State, Nigeria and provides them with a platform to showcase their talents and intellectual prowess.”
He promised that the Foundation would continue to add value to society through such engagement and other related activities.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor Taiwo Amos described the gathering as a laudable initiative and admonished the participants to use the outcome of the academic exercise as a stepping stone to greater heights saying life is a learning curve and they should learn something from their performance in the competition.
Graceland Foundation For Human Development, which was founded in 2020 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2022 as a non-profit, non-political organization, has among other things the mandate to assist the less privileged in society through scholarship programs, with over 200 beneficiaries till date, and also promote scholarship among young people.