The Katsina Innovative Thinkers Initiative, in collaboration with the Katsina State Government and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, will hold the sixth edition of the Abdul Mohammed Rafindadi, SAN, Quiz, Essay and Debate Competition.
The annual competition is designed to promote academic excellence, critical thinking, reading culture and public speaking among students across Katsina State.
The competition is open to students in Senior Secondary School 1 to 3 from public, community and unity schools in the state.
According to the organisers, participants will compete in reading, essay writing and debate, with this year’s activities expected to expose students to issues bordering on climate change, economic growth, agriculture, industrialisation and international relations.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Mr Rafindadi said investing in young people remained essential to building the kind of society Nigeria hopes to achieve in the future.
He said the competition was not merely about winning prizes but about encouraging students to read, think deeply, ask questions and develop the confidence to express their views.
“For me, this is more than a competition. It is an investment in young minds,” he said.
Mr Rafindadi said the initiative was intended to help students develop knowledge, confidence, discipline and curiosity while preparing them to engage with issues that would shape their generation.
He urged participating students to approach the competition as an opportunity for personal development rather than simply a contest for prizes.
“To every student participating: read, think, prepare and believe in yourself,” he said.
“Do not see this merely as a competition. See it as an opportunity to discover what you are capable of becoming.”
The competition will be conducted in stages, with the first and second rounds scheduled for October 10, 2026.
The semi-final debate is scheduled to hold on November 14, while the grand final will take place on December 10, 2026.
The initiative is also expected to provide a platform for students from different categories of schools across Katsina State to interact, compete and demonstrate their intellectual abilities.
Mr Rafindadi said the broader objective was to encourage young people to develop the habit of reading, think critically and speak confidently on matters affecting their communities and the wider society.
He said the future of the country would not be built only in government offices or corporate boardrooms, but could also begin with young people developing the capacity to read, analyse issues and articulate their views.
“Sometimes, it begins with a young student opening a book, taking a position and finding the courage to speak,” he said.
