A Senior Secondary School student of CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Goodness Adenaike recently won the opportunity to serve as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for one day during the 2024 STACK Reform Conference.
This symbolic appointment underscores the University’s commitment to youth empowerment and innovation, signaling its readiness to involve younger generations in nation-building.
The announcement followed the emergence of Adenaike as the winner of the Speech Competition, one of the core events of STACK Reform Conference under the chairmanship of Mr. Ayobami Olomiyete.
Master Adenaike and five other contestants spoke on the topic “The Future is Now: How Technology Will Shape Healthcare in the Next Decade,” in a fiercely competitive two-round contest. His insightful discourse and eloquence earned him a brand-new laptop, while runners-up including Jasmine Adeniyi of International School, Lagos (ISL) received a tablet computer and N100, 000:00 cash was awarded to Queens College’s Naomi Chukumah Okoh as third place winner.
Other schools represented in the competition were Federal College of Education Secondary School (Akoka), Jordan Model College, and Prudence City College.
The 2024 STACK Reform Conference, which was held recently with the theme, “Fast Forward: Nigeria’s Giant Leap into the Future of Healthcare,”provided a platform for experts, stakeholders, and students to explore innovative strategies to improve healthcare delivery.
The event which is the largest student health-tech conference in Lagos state also featured a lively panel session on “Overcoming the Barriers to Technological Integration in Nigeria’s Healthcare.”
Another key component of the Conference was the commemoration of the legacy of Late Professor Ayodeji Femi-Pearse, an esteemed academic and former Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, with the third (3rd) edition of the annual Femi-Pearse Essay Competition. The competition reached new heights this year, drawing over 2,000 entries, with 500 essays reviewed through a rigorous process.
Miss Cynthia Clement, a Computer Science student of the Federal University Dutse, emerged the winner of the cash prize of N500,000 while the second and third prizes went to Mr. Ayo Nitemi of University of Lagos (Faculty of Law) and Miss Lilian Osun of University of Ibadan, respectively.
In his remarks, representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, Director of Quality Assurance and SERVICOM, Professor Olufemi Saibu, emphasized the University’s dedication to fostering innovation.
His words “This conference aligns with our future-ready agenda. Healthcare systems are a vital part of our economy, and involving young minds in such critical discussions is both timely and laudable”.
On his part, President of KB Klub, Mr. Mustapha Madehin, reflected on the organization’s impactful journey since its inception in 1969. He lauded the strides made by the body in fostering academic excellence, youth development, and healthcare innovation.
He re-affirmed the club’s commitment to expanding its initiatives and thanked all stakeholders for their unwavering support.
“We will continue to create platforms for young minds to thrive and contribute meaningfully to societal progress,” he said.
