Queen’s College Wins 2025 Eloquence Cup as Competition Announces National Expansion to Abuja
Queen’s College, Lagos, has emerged as overall champion of the 2025 Eloquence Cup, marking the school’s third victory in the national public-speaking contest organised by the School of Eloquence.
According to the School of Eloquence, the 7th edition of the annual competition was held on November 22nd, 2025 at the institution’s headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Students from King’s College, Queen’s College, Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Lagoon School and several public schools participated in the keenly contested event, which featured the theme: “School Grading Versus Real Skills: Is Passing Exams Enough to Prepare the Nigerian Youth for the Future?”
Judges said the topic required extensive research, strong analytical ability and exceptional communication skills qualities that stood out as the contestants debated the role of real-world competencies in shaping the future of Nigerian youths.
Queen’s College clinched the Eloquence Cup trophy for the third time, following previous wins in 2019 and 2021.
Chukuma Okonomi of Queen’s College and Ibrahim Wikoyat Shodun of Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School won ₦150,000, Ugwe Derema of King’s College and Ega Serra of Lagoon School won ₦100,000 and Orji Esther of Government Senior College, Ikoyi, and Umar Hafsah of Government Senior College, Maroko got ₦75,000
Dean of the School of Eloquence, Ubong Essien, urged the students to prioritise public speaking as a core life skill, noting that effective communication plays a vital role in career advancement and leadership.
The Registrar, Patience Essien, also highlighted the organisation’s continuous investment in developing young communicators through its “Catching Them Young” CSR initiative, which has been running since 2017.
Essien further announced that the Eloquence Cup will transition into a national competition beginning in 2026. The 8th edition is scheduled to hold in Abuja and will feature participants from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, expanding the competition aligns with the School of Eloquence’s mission to raise a new generation of influential communicators across Nigeria. He also called on corporate organisations and development partners to support the national rollout.
“The next generation of leaders will be defined by their ability to communicate, and the Eloquence Cup is where that journey begins,” Essien said.
Founded as Nigeria’s foremost public-speaking institution, the School of Eloquence provides training in communication, presentation and leadership skills while running its flagship Eloquence Cup as part of efforts to nurture young talent nationwide.
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