In a display of intellectual prowess and eloquence, Imo State University (IMSU) has emerged victorious in the southeast zonal round of the national debating competition, securing a coveted spot to represent the zone at the national finals in Abuja.
The dynamic duo of IMSU students, Okolie Ugochukwu and Osuji Noel Oziomachukwu, showcased their exceptional debating skills, earning accolades and applause as they clinched victory in the intense competition.
The zonal contest, themed “My Nigeria, Our Nigeria,” was held at Imo State University, Owerri, and organized by Yiaga Africa in partnership with the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) and All Nigerians Debating Council (ANDC).
Mark Amaza, the senior communications officer at Yiaga Africa, emphasized the importance of debating as a powerful tool for shaping minds and driving change. He stated, “Debating is a powerful tool to shape minds and drive change. We want to inspire young people to verbalize and visualize the Nigeria they desire and take action towards making it a reality.”
Anthonia Onda, a senior programme officer at Yiaga Africa, reiterated the objective of providing young people with a platform to express themselves on issues of citizenship, politics, and governance. She emphasized the significance of stimulating conversations among young individuals and fostering their interest in engaging with these critical issues.
Furthermore, Onda revealed Yiaga Africa’s plans to extend the debate competition to the secondary school level in the future, in addition to the university-level competition. This initiative aims to nurture the debating skills of young minds from an early age and encourage them to actively participate in discussions on governance, politics, democracy, and citizenship.
In the spirit of healthy competition and constructive dialogue, the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) emerged as the second-place winner in the zonal competition. FUTO will have the opportunity to compete against the second runner-up from the southwest and south-south zones, with the possibility of advancing to the national finals alongside IMSU.
As IMSU prepares to represent the southeast zone at the national finals, the entire university community celebrates their achievement and looks forward to witnessing their continued success on the national stage.