Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu has commended the Madagascar 2015 Under-16 Afro Basketball Women Competition Silver Medalist, Onome Akinbode-James for impacting positively on the lives of learners in the State through various educative programmes
Prof. Arigbabu gave this commendation at the 2025 Readership Promotion Through Youth Seminar and Inter Collegiate Debate Competition, organised by Ready Leaders Foundation led by Onome in conjunction with Ogun State Library Board, said participating in sporting activities becomes an efficient mechanism to improve the mental functionalities of learners and enhance their academic performance.
The Commissioner appreciated Onome Akinbode-James for putting up such a competitive event culpable of promoting reading, literacy and development of education, explaining that the event serves as tools for advancement of education using library as vehicles and ideal setting for innovation, creativity and development of young minds.
He mentioned some of the interventions of the current administration in the State to give facelift to the library board as; the funding of over 28 separate professional training, workshops and conferences, a state-wide survey of personnel, collection, furniture, equipment and building of secondary school libraries.
"I commend the facilitators especially our dear daughter Onome and all those who have worked behind the scenes to contribute to the success of Ready Leaders Foundation", Arigbabu said.
In her speech, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko stated that debate does not teaches division, rather it helps people to grow, learn, and see perspectives beyond our own, encouraging the participants to speak with clarity, listen with empathy and engage with integrity.
Moreso, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports Development urged learners to be mentally, emotionally and educationally ready to face their future, saying young ones should focus on things that are peculiar to their achievements in life.
Underscoring the purpose of the event, the Executive Director, Ogun State Library Board, Mr. Vincent Giwa, said the topic "Engaging in Sports Affects Academic Performance" was timely and relevant as it would shed light on how sports could be used to boost focused and disciplined children, describing library as a gateway to endless possibilities, in which young minds must explore, read and debate to shine forth.
Earlier in her address, the founder of the foundation, Miss Onome Akinbode-James said in sports, you don’t just train your body, but your mind, habits, and character, noting that when youths combine what sports teaches with education, they gradually build the kind of person who can lead in school, at home, and in society.
According to her "Sports are one of the best places to learn how to practice leadership, discipline, teamwork, accountability, and decision-making"
"Sports helps in making choices quickly and living with the results
In school: this looks like choosing how you spend your time, who you surround yourself with, and what kind of student you want to be".
Miss Akinbode-James said leadership is a skill, and like any skill, it must be practiced to influence others to move forward, saying many young people are taught to be quiet, to wait, or to assume that someone else will fix things for them, hence the reason for their failure in life.
Onome Akinbode-James who was the Silver Medalist at the Madagascar 2015 Under-16 Afro Basketball Women Competition, emphasising that if young people are not taught leadership skills, society suffers but with the skills, young people learn discipline, responsibility, and problem-solving early, and the entire country benefits.
In her remarks, the mother of the Ready Leaders Foundation's Founder, Mrs. Tina Emuobo enjoined young ones, especially ladies not to give up on their aspirations, because one day their long awaited dreams would be realized.
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