GIFTED TEENAGER Michael Akinnyemi has won world’s largest youth public speaking competition with speech about Nigerian heritage.

Michael from St Benedict’s Catholic College, captivated an audience of more than 500 at Covent Garden’s Cambridge Theatre on 18 July , earning him the title of Grand Champion winner of Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge! 2022.

This is the largest youth speaking competition in the world with over 27,000 Year 10 students (14-15 year olds) in London and Essex state schools taking part this academic year alone. 

“My name is Michael Akinyemi, in case you didn’t get it the first time, because people rarely do, my name is Michael Akinyemi. Those who are more inquisitive might ask ‘what does your surname mean?’ It means ‘to be a fighter’.”

Using his natural charm and crafted storytelling, Michael entertained the judges and audience while sharing some personally observed truths; “Those who came before me were just as strong mentally as they were physically, my ancestors. 400 years later my father comes to England, a fighter…carrying resilience in his left hand and courage in his right.”

The Grand Final judging panel who declared Michael the winner comprised a mix of award-winning journalists, high-profile business people and celebrities, all known for using their voice to make a change:

Tim Campbell MBE, first winner of the Apprentice, and is now Lord Sugar’s aide on the show as well as successful businessman, Tanya Cordrey, VP of Product at Instagram, Montell Douglas, TeamGB Summer and Winter Games Olympian, coach and public speaker, Candice Brown, 2016 Great British Bake Off winner, The Sunday Times columnist and best-selling author, Kaylee Golding, DJ and award winning presenter on Kiss FM, Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary for the Department for Education, Francis Dearnley, Assistant Comment Editor at the Telegraph and Mayumi Staunton, Jack Petchey “Speak Out” Challenge! Champion 2021.

Watch and use Michael’s winning speech, ‘I am a fighter’:

Michael will receive £2,000 for himself and £3,000 for his school, St Benedict’s Catholic College to be spent on a project of his choice.

Before receiving the title, Michael explained why he chose to speak out about this topic: “There are two reasons. One – because my heritage is very important to me, and I wouldn’t have talked about anything else.

“The second reason – because of stigmas about immigration. I talk about my father in my speech as an immigrant to shed some light why people immigrate. It’s not like he couldn’t have lived a good life in Nigeria. He graduated from university, was earning decent money. But he knew that he was destined for more than “decent”. Immigrants don’t leave their entire lives behind to come and steal people’s jobs in England.”

After being crowned Grand Champion, Michael added: “Looking back from when I first did the workshop, they told me I had to do a speech three minutes long, I didn’t even think it was possible. To stand up there (on stage) with 14 of the best speakers that I had ever met, there are no words to describe it, It’s been amazing, it’s been amazing. Hopefully I’ll get to come back here and judge, I’ve fallen in love with the competition and all of the speeches I have heard. I might explore public speaking.”

Runner-up position went to Izzy Hilton of Westcliff High School for Girls, near Southend, Essex.

Izzy shares her personal experience of her tic disorder. She explains “I refuse to let something as simple as a tic disorder get in the way of my life, because tics aren’t always Tourette’s, they’re not a social video to be laughed at, they are a part of who I am.”

At the end of the event Izzy said: “I am very glad to have taken part in Speak Out Challenge, to come second and to show my personal development.  To be able to stand on stage and give a speech on something as personal as tic is fantastic.”

Watch Izzy’s winning speech, ‘A Pain in the Neck’:

Third place was taken by Grace McCarthy of St Gregory’s Catholic Science College in Brent, North London. Grace opens her speech with the statement; “Sometimes I think that my skirt in higher than the emphasis the government places on the safety of women. Sometimes I think that my heels are higher than the value placed upon keeping us safe. Sometimes I think that my make up is better made up than the policies that are designed to protect us.”

Grace said: “It’s absolutely amazing! I never thought anything like that would ever happen, it’s so surreal! It’s taught me so much about confidence, getting up in front of people and not being afraid to use my voice. A workshop at school has turned into being on a huge stage on the West End, it’s absolutely astounding.”

Watch Grace’s speech, ‘Do I Need a Longer Skirt?’:

Fourth place was awarded to Maya Redley from Leytonstone School in East London. Maya’s speech questions beauty standards set out in films for her childhood.

Maya said: “Standing here 4th out of 27,000 is insane and to be given this opportunity to share what I had to say and to have people actually listen to me is so special. It’s given me confidence, Now going into things I don’t second guess myself as much and it’s shown me that I can do it, if I put my mind to it, I can do anything!”

Watch Maya’s speech, ‘Rapunzel, Race and Representation’:https://youtu.be/7kpPvP9lxVk