A COMMERCIAL motor cyclist (popularly called Okada rider ) Mr Kareem Abiola has emerged the overall winner at the yearly Adult Learners quiz competition.
Abiola, who represented Mushin Local Government Area slammed other nine contestants with six points to take home a 32- inch led TV at the grand finale of the contest organised by Lagos State Agency for Mass Education.
The event was held at SUBEB Hall, Maryland.
Mrs Janet Bankole of Orile Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) was first runners up, while Mrs Ruth Idowu of Ifako Ijaye LCDA came third, winning a microwave oven and a standing fan respectively. Mrs Musilimat Adebayo of Amuwo Odofin came fourth and was gifted with a gas burner.
The contest centred on Maths, English and General Knowledge also gave room for other 10 contestants who competed in the Yoruba quiz version.
Abiola, 36, nurses a big dream: he hopes to be a successful banker.
Speaking with The Nation, Abiola who hails from Kwara State, recalled that for circumstances beyond his control, he would have long fulfilled his dream of acquiring education.
“I managed to finish my primary education in my village in Kwara State but I had no means to further my education, I had to quit,” he recounted. From then, I started helping my parents in my dad’s cocoa farm. I got to Lagos five years ago and survival instinct pushed me to okada work. Later on, I enrolled for adult education but could not continue due to financial constraint. But last December, when I heard about adult mass education, I went to Mushin Secretariat and I enrolled.
“Had it been things were normal, I would not have only been educated but would have become a banker now.
“I feel very happy today that my quest for knowledge has won me this competition. At least, I can say there has been improvement in my learning ability; this award is a proof to that,” he said.
The Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the event was an avenue to witness the level of commitment and dedication of ‘our adult learners’ across the state and to appreciate them for being focused.
“For us adult literacy is a key programme. The state Governor (Akinwunmi Ambode) has said Lagos must work for all; and for that to actualise, we do not want to leave anybody behind. Our adult population is very important to us, that is the reason we launch ‘Eko n kekoo – Lagos is learning’ which is a programme to ensure that we crash down our illiteracy rate in Lagos. Eighty-seven per cent of Lagosians are literates. Over the next three years we want to move that up to 90per cent. There is a commitment to do that.”
He promised that from next year, more literacy centres would be created to double the existing ones, adding that the agency would also partner with religious organisations and schools.
The state Agency for Mass Education Director, Mrs Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, said: ”If we have a whole lot of them in Lagos State that cannot read and write, then we will not make much progress because when it s time for election, these are the people that contribute more.’’
