Honeyland Schools, situated in the Abesan area of Lagos State, has emerged as the overall winner of the ninth National Interschool Music Competition and Academic Award, earning a prize of N200,000. The school received a commemorative trophy and cheque, while members of its orchestra were honoured with medals for their exceptional performance.
The event, which initially took place on February 13, 2025, at the University of Lagos, experienced a discrepancy in the allocation of scores. This led to the formation of a review committee to reassess the results. After careful evaluation, the organisers announced on April 4, 2025, that Honeyland was the rightful winner of the competition, which was themed “Music for Social Change.”
During the announcement, Olubunmi Adebowale, Executive Director of the competition, praised Honeyland’s talent and perseverance. She acknowledged the earlier error, expressing regret while assuring all participants that the competition remains rooted in fairness and integrity. Adebowale emphasized that the correction reflects the organisers’ commitment to truth and justice.
Reacting to the news, Honeyland School’s administrator, Akinleye Oludayo, expressed satisfaction with the organisers’ transparency and fairness. The school’s music director, Adeniyi Bamidele, also shared insights into their preparation, noting that consistent rehearsals and strong support from the school’s leadership played a key role in their victory. He explained that although they had initially composed an afrobeats piece, he followed his instincts and opted for a reggae performance instead—a decision that ultimately paid off.
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