Renowned professional compere, Communication coach and media professional Gloria Babarinde has introduced the Gloria Babarinde Public Speaking Prize, an initiative designed to help secondary school students build confidence, clarity, and leadership through public speaking.
Babarinde said the programme was inspired by her personal experience of learning to communicate effectively. “Learning to communicate confidently changed everything for me,” she told Reuters. “I’ve met so many brilliant young people who have great ideas but struggle to express them clearly. The Public Speaking Prize was born to fix that, to help students find their voice, own it, and use it as a tool for impact.”
She noted that while Nigeria’s education system continues to produce strong academic performers, it gives limited attention to communication and soft skills. She believes this affects how young people connect and lead. “Communication is leadership,” she said. “It’s how we connect, influence, and inspire. Every change begins with someone who can articulate a vision clearly enough for others to believe in it. Public speaking isn’t about sounding perfect — it’s about sounding authentic.”
The competition will feature 30 secondary schools across Lagos, drawn from both mainstream and underserved communities, for a one-day speaking challenge. The contest will run in three elimination rounds. In the first round, all 30 schools will compete, with 15 eliminated.
The second round will see 15 schools return, and eight will be dropped. The final round will feature seven schools, from which the top three speakers will emerge as winners. “It’s fast-paced, energetic, and very interactive,” Babarinde said. “Judges will be looking for clarity, originality, confidence, and emotional connection. It’s not about who speaks English the best, it’s about who communicates with heart and impact.”
Winners will receive cash prizes, books, plaques, and certificates. However, Babarinde said the key focus is mentorship and professional exposure. “Winners get access to some of Nigeria’s most respected communication veterans,” she said, listing Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede, Oscar Oyinsan, Olusola Olaleye, Damola Adegboye, Riyah Abdul, Isabella Adediji, Mojibade Sosanya, and Joseph Onaolapo as mentors. “Beyond prizes, it’s about meeting industry leaders, learning stage confidence, and gaining the courage to speak anywhere, anytime.”
Reflecting on her own experience, Babarinde recalled how authenticity became her guiding principle. “I remember hosting an event years ago when the atmosphere suddenly went cold,” she said. “I dropped my script and told a story about my first time speaking publicly, how nervous I was and how a mentor told me, ‘Your voice is not for perfection; it’s for connection.’” That lesson, she said, shaped her belief that communication should come from honesty rather than performance.
Babarinde noted that public speaking is often missing from the curriculum, especially in low-income schools. “Many students are afraid of being judged,” she said. “They don’t get enough chances to speak, and when they do, they’re often corrected harshly instead of guided gently. This initiative creates a safe space for them to make mistakes, learn, and grow — with encouragement, not criticism.”
The project aims to build an alumni network of confident communicators who will mentor others. “We’ll know it’s working when we start seeing these students lead — in school debates, prefect roles, or youth forums,” she said. Babarinde also called for sponsors and partners who share her belief in communication as a tool for nation-building. “We’re calling on organisations, brands, and individuals who want to invest in raising articulate young Nigerians,” she said. “Together, we can create a ripple effect, one confident student at a time.”
While the first edition focuses on Lagos, Babarinde hopes to expand the project across Nigeria and eventually Africa. “Without a doubt, this is just the beginning,” she said. “I see the Gloria Babarinde Public Speaking Prize becoming a nationwide annual movement — and eventually an African-wide platform that discovers, trains, and celebrates young communicators. Confident voices build confident nations.” She concluded, “The mission is simple: to raise a new generation of young Africans who speak with clarity, lead with confidence, and inspire with conviction.”
