Young politics star goes back to school to spark debate
Since leaving junior school he has been elected on to the West Midland's Youth Parliament and even instigated a debate in the Houses of Parliament over mental health.
And last week, Namir Chowdhury, now aged 18, returned to Blue Coat Junior School in Walsall to present a new debating award which has been named after him.
Namir attended Blue Coat Infant and Junior Schools when he was younger and represented Blue Coat as a member of the school's debating team.
He is currently in his final A-level year at Queen Mary's Grammar School and has proved himself to be a highly effective debater and public speaker at the next level.
He was elected a member of the Youth Parliament for the West Midlands and as part of this role, he recently led and won a debate in the Houses of Parliament in London on the need to raise mental health awareness across the country.
As well as presenting this special award to the school, Namir has offered to deliver some public speaking workshops to the Blue Coat pupils later in the academic year.
He said: "I remember my time at Blue Coat very well and with great fondness.
"I want Blue Coat pupils to continue to have every opportunity to develop their debating and public speaking abilities as these are such valuable skills.
"I hope this award will motivate them to do so."
The Namir Chowdhury Debating Award will be awarded each year to a Blue Coat pupil who has demonstrated high levels of skill when representing the school in debating competitions.
Head of School for the Juniors, Peter Prasadam, said: "Namir was an exceptionally able pupil when he attended our school.
"I well remember the varied and huge contribution he made to the life of the school including as a debater and public speaker.
"It is wonderful for this award to be named after him so that current and future pupils can aspire to follow the extraordinary example Namir has set."
Namir has also worked as a Youth Police Commissioner as part of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's office.
His profile on the site reads: "I want to make a difference for both the next generation and beyond.
"I feel that we can improve the circumstances that young people have to go through as they live their lives.
"I want to make a change, a difference."
