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Humzah Wows First Minister with Speech

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Humzah Wows First Minister with Speech

The last days of the school holidays are a time to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet before the start of the new academic year. However, this was not the case for Humzah Razzaq (S3). He was invited to join the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, to receive a private tour of the GlaswegAsian exhibition at the Scotland Street School Museum.

The exhibition marks the start of a relationship between Glasgow Museums and Colourful Heritage, a community group that has developed an online archive of material recording the migration of people from South Asia to Scotland. Among the exhibits is the kilt and sherwani worn by Humza Yousaf as he was sworn in at the Scottish Parliament in 2011.

Earlier this month, Colourful Heritage invited Humzah to present a speech on the importance of the exhibition for his generation. His response discussed his grandparents’ migration, their hard work, and the opportunities given to him. At the private tour, Humzah performed a 60-second version, which was praised by the First Minister. Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf also invited the S3 pupil to his constituency office for work experience.

Humzah has already established quite a reputation in public speaking circles. Earlier this year, he and two other S3 pupils were crowned district, regional and finally national champions at the Rotary Youth Speaks competition. In the final, the trio performed a memorable speech on the importance of the ‘middle ground’, and used the inventive example of Goldilocks to illustrate their argument.

Last week, Humzah was also invited to the Pakistan Consulate to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the country’s independence.

Speaking to Humzah, he cited this experience with the Public Speaking Club as helping improve his confidence. He also thanked Mr Ruddy, who works with the Public Speaking Club, for supporting him throughout.

Humzah shared some public speaking tips. ‘Revise as often as you can’, he explained and ‘look up enough, but also look down’.

Asked if he has future ambitions in politics, Humzah replied that although he had encouragement from Nicola Sturgeon, who tipped him as a future First Minister, he was still undecided. Just like a true politician!

For now, Humzah is focused on his first national exams, as well as the upcoming Individual Rotary Youth Speaks competition. We wish him the best of luck.

N.B. Please note that these images are from a private tour of the Scotland Street School Museum’s GlaswegAsian exhibition.