Peace Peter, Benin City
The 2025 edition of the Chief Richard Lamai Competition for Creativity and Public Speaking recorded a 100 per cent increase in participation, with six students from the University of Benin submitting entries for the prestigious contest.
The competition, which aims to develop and showcase young people’s communication, creativity, and innovative thinking skills, was open to students of all public tertiary institutions across Edo State. The theme for the fifth edition was “Harnessing Creativity for Social Impact: Pitch Your Innovative Business Idea.”
According to the organisers, all six participants submitted presentation videos that complied with the competition guidelines, particularly the stipulated maximum duration of five minutes, while a panel of three judges independently evaluated each participant based on ten criteria, including originality and creativity, clarity of pitch, feasibility, and financial projections.
However, after a thorough evaluation, none of the participants met the required 70 per cent benchmark needed to emerge as an outright winner. As a result, the organisers announced that the top three participants would receive compensation as a form of encouragement.
The Chief Richard Lamai Competition is an annual event organised by the Authors-in-School Creative Club in partnership with sponsors such as Chief Richard Lamai, a philanthropist and mentor to youth initiatives. The competition has become a platform for nurturing creativity, innovation, and public speaking skills among students, while promoting ideas aimed at creating positive social impact.
The increase in participation and quality of submissions is a testament to the competition’s growing popularity and impact among students in Edo State. The organisers have expressed their commitment to sustaining the initiative and providing a platform for young people to showcase their talents and ideas.
The organisers also reaffirmed that the competition will continue to serve as a platform for nurturing creativity, innovation, and public speaking skills among students.
