The Victory Drugs’ 3rd Annual Inter-School Quiz and Debate Competition took place at Big Treat, Festac Town, Lagos on the 17th of October, 2018.

Every year, Victory Drugs, a renowned community pharmacy in Festac Town, Lagos, organizes health-related quiz and debate competition for Secondary School students. This is one of the many health awareness projects run by the pharmacy to promote community health. This year’s program was themed: ‘Your future, Your treasure.’ Given the increased prevalence of drug abuse among teenagers and youths in Nigeria in recent times, the goal of this program was to increase their awareness on the abuse of drugs, how it may affect their health and ultimately their future.   

Seven schools participated in the program with a total of 31 students and 7 teachers. The program was also graced with distinguished guests including renowned Marriage Counselor and former Vice-National Chairman of Scripture Union Nigeria, Pastor Toyin Lawal, who gave the opening speech and welcome address. This was followed by an empowering speech that had audience at the edge of their seats by the keynote speaker, Pastor Tunde Fowe, who worked as the Country Director (Nigeria) for Family Impact Values Impact Nigeria, aka Family Impact (FI).

“You must be able to grow your treasure, there are people with very lofty dreams, but dreams are nothing if they are not translated into action,” he concluded, “All that you can ever become in life, as it were, that destiny is in your hands, do not throw it away”.

The event commenced with a fun and interactive life skills session on ‘Core Values Clarification’ facilitated by a Youth Missionary at Scripture Union Nigeria, Michael Idowu, teaching the students crucial lesson on clarifying their values.

The first round of the competition was a quiz anchored by CEO of Nigerian Voice Bank, Emeka Onunkwo. S-TEE High School and Festac Senior Grammar School emerged top of the competition and advanced into the second round- the debate. Both schools went head to head on the topic, “ Drug Abuse: Parent is to Blame and Not The Abuser,” with Akpenyi Kika of S-TEE High supporting the notion and Olisakwe Precious of Festac Senior Grammar against the notion. The students were scored on account of representation, organization, timing and points. At the end of the debate session,  Olisakwe Precious was awarded the 1st place winner and presented with a honorary plaque and a Techno Droidpad 7D tablet. An Omron M3 Blood Pressure Monitor was also given to Festac Senior Grammar School. The 2nd place winner Akpenyi Kika representing S-TEE High School was awarded a cash prize of N10,000 (ten thousand naira).

Victory Drugs profoundly appreciates every school that attended the programme and looks forward to seeing them (and all other invited schools) next year, as they join us to empower the young ones with values and skills that ensure healthy living and bright futures.