From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Imo State University (IMSU),Owerri has won the South East zonal debate competition organised by Yiaga Africa in partnership with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and will represent the zone in the national finals .
This is just as Senior Communications officer of Yiaga Africa; Mr Mark Amaze disclosed that the aim of the all Nigeria universities debate is to reintroduce debates, which is a platform for young Nigerians to express their thoughts and ideas about Nigeria of their dreams.
According to him, plans are underway to reintroduce debating in the secondary schools in the country.
The competition organized by Yiaga Africa in partnership with the NUC and All Nigerians Debating Council (ANDC), aims to provide a platform for young people to express their thoughts and ideas about the Nigeria of their dreams.
Amaze, said the debate competition is designed to shape minds, drive change, and inspire young people to take action towards realizing their vision for Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the debate is modelled around the British parliamentary system of debating, with each debaters alternating between the head of government, head of opposition, deputy head of government, and deputy head of opposition.
“And therefore there is opening government, opening opposition, closing government and closing opposition,” he stated.
At the end of the competitive debate, Okolie Ugochukwu and Osuji Noel Oziomachukwu of Imo State University emerged winners of the Southeast zone thus qualifed for the national event, while Austin Kelachukwu and Mba Evelyn Ugochinyere of Federal University of Technology Owerri, who came second will slug it out with the runners up from the South South and South West and the winner will proceed to the finals.