Rwanda: Veritas varsity wins Commonwealth Universities Debating Championship

Veritas University, Bwari-Abuja, has emerged winners at the maiden edition of the Commonwealth Universities Debating Championship held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The victory of the Veritas team to the championship is coming on the heels of several international laurels won by the University, according to a statement by the Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of the University, Ben. Agande.

Reacting to the recent development, the Vice Chancellor of Veritas University, Rev. Fr. Professor Hyacinth Ichoku, noted that “with this victory, it is clear that our victories in the other international competitions were not flukes.”

“What this means is that we are on the right track in our commitment to giving our students holistic education that will combine discipline, academic excellence, robust interpersonal skills development and the confidence to stand on the world stage to defend their knowledge. We are thrilled by this and it will certainly serve as an elixir for us to consolidate on what we have been doing and to do more,” he said.

While thanking the students that represented the varsity at the world stage, the VC said it is a thing of pride for not just Veritas University but also for Nigeria.

“As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, we keenly look forward to the pursuit of excellence in the field of research and other academic endeavours. The university remains committed to nurturing talent, fostering critical thinking skills and providing platforms for students to excel both inside and outside the classroom” he said.

The statement noted that In February, 2024, Veritas University emerged Victorious in the African Telecommunications Union Digital Innovation Challenge in Nairobi, Kenya. The victory came with prize money of $20,000.

Also, in December 2022,Veritas University won the Pan-African Universities Debate Championship held in Nairobi, Kenya, defeating over 100 other African Universities.

Meanwhile a statement by the Commonwealth secretariat noted that the Commonwealth Universities’ Debating Championship (CUDC) is a flagship programme initiated by Aspire Debate Rwanda in partnership with the University of Rwanda with strong support from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Rwanda as the leading line Ministry in preparation of this championship.

It said: “The post-Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) engagement CUDC activities seek to bring youth, specifically university students from Commonwealth member countries together to discuss and share ideas, information and knowledge on the recommendations of the previous Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.”

“The programme also intends to encourage young people to have a deep involvement in policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation as a prerequisite to intensely hold their leaders accountable.”

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