10th Universities debating championship holds in Abuja

Dr. Chukwudi Victor Odoeme, Coordinator Veritas University Debating Society and Chairman LOC/Tournament Director, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the championship.

While giving the details of the championship, Dr. Odoeme said: “The debaters are undergraduate students of Nigerian universities; public, private, faith-based, and state-owned universities.

“We have invited over 230 universities and are hoping that they will come to slug it out intellectually.

“They will be debating on topics to be selected by an experienced panel and there will also be rooms for public speaking competition.”

The University lecturer who lamented the lack of sponsorship said winners will only be rewarded with trophies while the winning institution will get a certificate.

While downplaying the importance of price money in getting students to participate in the championship, he maintained that participants’ ability to build confidence and make their points were invaluable.

He disclosed that the All-Nigeria University Debating Council had approached the National University Commission (NUC) and TetFund for support, lamenting that they have not bought into the initiative yet.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Onukwuba, Veritas University’s Director of Development and member of the championship’s LOC, called on the government to sponsor debate the way they sponsor football.

Also speaking, Ochiedo Edwin Adah, the current African Champion of the Pan African Debating Championship, explained that participants would be given a topic which they are to think about and deliver on the spot.

He said: “The essence of this is that you allow people to think on the spot. The impact of the championship is to improve the thinking process of participants. If they are going to be leaders of tomorrow, we need to have our future in the hands of those thinking.”