Malik Lawal of Osun State University, Osogbo, clinched first position at the grand finale of the Prof. Rasaq Deremi Abubakre Progressive Initiatives Essay Competition held in Osogbo, walking away with a cash prize of ₦150,000 and a Samsung tablet.

Ganiyu Odunola of Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun, placed second and received N100,000 and a Samsung tablet, while Yakub Opeyemi of the University of Ilorin finished third and received N75,000 and a Samsung tablet. The chairman of the initiative confirmed that all other contestants would also receive cash rewards in recognition of their participation.

The Education Committee Chairman and Vice Chancellor of the University of Offa, Kwara State, Prof. Kazeem Gbolagade, disclosed that 44 students submitted entries for the competition. He revealed that three contestants scored 77% during the initial assessment, necessitating oral presentations to determine final placements. "At the end of the screening, we discovered that three of the students scored 77 per cent. For fairness, which is our hallmark, the top three were subjected to oral presentations to determine the first, second and third positions," he said.

Keynote speaker and former Vice Chancellor of Al Hikmah University, Patigi, Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, urged students to pursue academic excellence without sacrificing integrity. He stressed that education divorced from character produced dangerous rather than productive graduates. "Nothing is ever achieved without determination. Character is also important. If you learn without character, you will only become a smart devil. Education will take you far, but your character will keep you there," Adedimeji stated.

Chairman of the Prof. Rasaq Deremi Abubakre Progressive Initiatives, Yekeen Abilagbo, commended participants for the quality of their submissions. The retired diplomat, however, expressed concern that Osun State's education sector had yet to record the level of progress expected under the current administration.