Unilorin Student, Daramola Luke emerges first runner-up of Inter-University Young Historian Competition
A 300-level Student of History and International Studies Department from the University of Ilorin, Daramola Luke Idowu has emerged as the first runner-up of the maiden edition of Young Historian Competition.
Daramola, who featured at the grand finale of the Competition against AbdulMalik Isa from Bayero University Kano which was held at Nile University in Abuja on Sunday, October 1 expressed his delight over his achievement.
The grand finale had both Luke and Abdulmalik making presentation on the topic ; “Preserving the legacy: the enduring significance of the ‘labour of our heroes past’.
After their presentations, Isa was eventually declared the winner by the panel of Judges and Daramola emerged as the first runner-up.
Kogi-born Daramola made it to the final stage after passing through all the preliminary stages of the competition which had 2,345 applicants.
Out of over 2000 students that applied, only 30 students made it to the competition proper. The competition would further progressed to various stages from Intra-regional, inter-regional, quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand Finale.
“I feel proud of my achievements and want to Thank everyone that has supported me thus far. Said Daramola.
“I believe everybody is a winner. I see myself as a winner. I feel highly honored and happy to have participated in this National competition.
Noting that the competition has served as an eye opener to him, Daramola stated that being a Student of History has really been helpful to him.
“As a history Student, I am very happy that all the components of the courses I learnt in the class and also through my personal research are now paying off.
He commended the Restored Heart Foundation for organizing the competition, adding that the organization has enlivened History not as a subject but an integral part of the Nigerian society.
Daramola stressed that the Competition has also created in him, the urge and zeal to know more about the History of Nigeria and the world at large.
“This outing has offered me a great opportunity to prepare ahead of other similar Competition and my expectations for the future is to occupy a strategic place in telling the story of my country in its best form and use it as a source of inspiration to the younger generation.
“It’s been a wonderful journey for me combining the demands of the Competition with my Academic activities but I thank Almighty God, my parents, lecturers and friends for supporting me all through.
For emerging as the first runner-up, Daramola was presented with a plaque, a cheque of a sum of three hundred thousand naira and also won himself a international tour to Kenya.
The Young Historian Competition is an initiative aimed at nurturing a strong sense of
history awareness among young Nigerians, especially those studying in Nigerian universities.
It also seeks to instill a burning desire to uphold Nigeria’s cultural values, foster leadership skills, and create a collective
consciousness of the nation’s history across all walks of life.
The advanced stages of the competition saw participants travelling to University of Calabar for the quarter-finals, Bayero University of Kano for the semi-finals and Nile University in Abuja for the grand finale.
Luke Daramola is an ardent advocate and promoter of African History. The Young Historian has already cut his teeth as an International news and Globar Affairs analyst with several publications to his name, especially on The Informant247.
