Sterling Bank Supports Lagos Schools Debate Competition, Strengthening Its Commitment to Youth Development

Funmi Ogundare 

Sterling Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing globally competitive Nigerian talent by sponsoring the 2026 Lagos Schools Debate Competition (LSDC). The three‑day intellectual contest gathered students from across Lagos State to test their critical thinking, communication and leadership skills.

The competition, which concluded at the British International Junior School on Victoria Island, was organized by DebateChamps in partnership with the Harvard Debate Council of the United States.

Nineteen junior and senior secondary schools from the six education districts of Lagos State participated.

Competitors debated under the junior world schools format, receiving debate motions only 30 minutes before each round. This structure challenged students to demonstrate intellectual agility, spontaneous reasoning and structured argumentation under pressure.

Sterling Bank said its support aligns with the education pillar of its HEART strategy, a framework that promotes growth in five key sectors critical to national development: Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

Speaking about the sponsorship, the bank’s Chief Marketing Officer, Donatus Okpako, noted that the initiative reflects the bank’s belief that Nigeria’s future competitiveness depends on the quality of education and critical‑thinking skills developed among young people.

“Education remains the foundation of every progressive society, and the bank is committed to empowering the next generation of innovators and problem‑solvers,” he said.

“The skills we watched these students sharpen over three days—critical thinking, structured argumentation and the courage to speak under pressure—are the same skills that will determine whether Nigeria competes or merely participates in the global economy of the next decade,” he added. “Platforms like the Lagos Schools Debate Competition are exactly the kind of investment that compounds, and we will continue to support initiatives that sharpen the country’s next great minds,” he stressed.

Peju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, also spoke. She emphasized the importance of expanding access to quality intellectual opportunities for students regardless of their socio‑economic backgrounds.

“Our involvement in the LSDC is driven by the urgent need to democratize access to high‑level intellectual opportunities for students across all socio‑economic backgrounds,” she said. “Building a resilient educational ecosystem requires deliberate partnerships, and the Sterling One Foundation is proud to support a platform that goes beyond rote learning to foster genuine intellectual curiosity and structured thinking among Nigerian youth.”

At the grand finale, Wellspring College in Omole won the senior category, while Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in Ikeja finished as first runner‑up. In the junior category, British International School on Victoria Island clinched the top prize, with Grace High School in Gbagada as first runner‑up.

The organizers also recognized 20 outstanding speakers—10 students from each category—for their exceptional performances during the competition.

Jamiu Alli‑Balogun, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, commended the participants for exhibiting remarkable confidence, analytical ability and public‑speaking skills. He noted that the competition broadened students’ exposure, encouraged intellectual engagement, promoted healthy competition and strengthened leadership capacity among young people.

Sterling Bank said the sponsorship is part of its broader investment in education and human‑capital development. In 2025, the bank launched the N2 billion Beyond Education Scholarship Fund, which fully funds undergraduate education for 600 students across partner institutions; the first cohort of 99 beneficiaries has already been announced.

The Sterling One Foundation has also expanded initiatives such as the Early Child Learning Advancement Project (E‑CLAP), supporting literacy and numeracy development among children in Lagos, Kano, Borno and Oyo States. The foundation also backs the Indigenous Multilingual Digital Literacy and AI Hub in Ajegunle, Lagos, providing AI‑powered learning opportunities in 13 African languages.

According to the bank, its sponsorship of the Lagos Schools Debate Competition represents another strategic investment in developing the skills and capabilities required to prepare young Nigerians for future leadership and global competitiveness.