By Sulaimon Olanrewaju
In 2022, 14-year old Oluwatimilehin Charles Taileatu rose to national prominence. The boy, then an SS2 student of Oritamefa Baptist Model School in Ibadan, Oyo State, first emerged the overall best in the South West edition of the NNPC Quiz Competition, and was later adjudged Second Best at the national level. With his feats, Taileatu was rewarded with cash gifts at the zonal level and education grant at the national level.
Although a quiz competition can be subject-specific, oftentimes it is general knowledge-based. Quiz competitions are meant to broaden learners’ knowledge with a view to making them well-rounded. So, participation in quiz competitions mandates students to go beyond the limits of their curriculum and pay attention to their history, geography, the evolution of their societies, as well as the exemplary and valorous deeds of their predecessors that shaped the past and have an effect on the future.
In Nigeria, general knowledge-based quiz competitions are usually centred on heroes such as Mr Herbert Macaulay, a nationalist; Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first President; Sir Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s only Prime Minister; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, first Premier of Western Region; Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of Northern Region; Chief Michael Opara, Premier of Eastern Region; Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, second Premier of Western Region; Chief Anthony Enahoro, the one who first moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence; Gen Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s wartime military head of state; General Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigeria military head of state and civilian president; Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, women’s rights activist; Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, hero of Nigeria’s democracy; Mrs Margaret Ekpo, women’s rights activist; Chief Gani Fawehinmi, human rights activist, Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, women’s rights activist, and a host of others.
General knowledge-based quiz competitions in Oyo State will feature names such as General David Jemibewon, former military governor; Chief Bola Ige, former governor of old Oyo State; Dr Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of old Oyo State; General Oladayo Popoola, former military governor; Chief Kolapo Ishola, former governor of Oyo State; Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, former governor; Senator Rasidi Ladoja, former governor; Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former governor and Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, former governor.
However, since general knowledge questions are not only about who ruled when or where, but more about who accomplished what and when, I posit that future general knowledge questions about Oyo State would look somewhat like the following:
Question: Who upgraded Ibadan Airport to international status?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who constructed the Ibadan Circular Road?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who constructed the 76.67km Iseyin-Ogbomoso Road?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who revamped Lekan Salami stadium?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who facilitated Oyo State’s sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who constructed the LAUTECH College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who facilitated the upgrading of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a University of Education?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor employed about 27,000 Oyo State citizens and residents in one fell swoop?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who established the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA)?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who established the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who established the Oyo State Sovereign Wealth Fund?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who established the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA)?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who established the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor led his state to become the first sub-national to develop an AfCFTA strategy?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor led his state to be the first African sub-national to join the World Union of Wholesale Market?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor led Oyo State to host an AfDB Agricultural Transformation Centre?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who built the Omololu Olunloyo Park?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Name the first governor to introduce health insurance policy to primary school pupils?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor gave over 500 vehicles to security agencies in Oyo State?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor gave buses to all tertiary institutions in Oyo State?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor transformed Gate Area in Ibadan, built shops and gave to traders free?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Which Governor pays the highest pension in Nigeria?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Name the first Governor to reconstruct 100kms of roads within Ibadan metropolis?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who reconstructed the Moniya-Iseyin Road?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Name the first Oyo State Governor to achieve independent power generation.
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who reconstructed the Iseyin-Oyo road?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who stopped the payment of N3,000 levy in Oyo State primary and secondary schools?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who transformed Fasola Farm Estate into an industrial hub?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who grew the Internally Generated Revenue of Oyo State from N1.8bn to over N7b monthly?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Under whose leadership did Ibadan become the second fastest growing city in Africa?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who built the Challenge Bus Terminal?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who built the Ojoo Bus Terminal?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
Question: Who built the Iwo Road Bus Interchange Terminal?
Answer: Seyi Makinde.
With the feats already achieved by Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, within the spate of six years, it is doubtful if any state can get a better governor. Little wonder that some residents of a nearby state were recently angling for a governor swap.
•Dr Olanrewaju is the Chief Press Secretary to Oyo State Governor.
