Ebonyi State has won the 2016 democracy school debate. It defeated Taraba and Police teams at the finals of the championship organised by the President’s School Debate Nigeria (PSDN) a non-governmental organisation from May 24 to May 28 in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PSDN comprised private and public sector stakeholders.
Dr Adaeze Nwauzor, Ebonyi Centenary Debate team leader, told NAN on Monday that Ebonyi would represent Nigeria in an international school debate competition in Indonesia.
“By this feat, we have qualified to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming international school debate competition in Indonesia.
“We were also presented with a trophy by Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of the President, at a dinner party with the students.
“My team won because of hard work coupled with their intelligence. We took time to select the best students in terms of debate for this competition.
“We started by training the trainers – debate handlers – then we went round the 13 local government areas and selected the best speakers from each local government.
“We went to three zones and selected the best speakers; then at the semi-grand finale, we selected the best speakers,’’ she said.
She commended Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, and his wife for their support and commitment to human development.
Nwauzor, who is the Senior Special Adviser to Umahi on Higher Education, said that the governor’s support and passion for educational development of the state contributed to the team’s victory.
She also thanked the organisers, especially, Dare Olotu, PSDN’s National Coordinator and all the members of the committee, for a well organised debate.
NAN recalls that Olotu had at the opening ceremony, said that the essence of the competition was to bring Nigerian students to debate on motions affecting the country.
He said that wining team would have automatic qualification to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming international schools debate in Indonesia.
Olotu said the topics of debate were: “This House Believes that the Agricultural Sector has Better Prospects for Nigeria’s Economic Growth.
“This House Believes that Posting of National Youth Corps Members should be Limited to their Geo-political Zones.’’
No fewer than 13 teams drawn from Taraba, Imo, Niger, Ebonyi, Anambra, Kaduna, Oyo, Sokoto, Benue and FCT, participated in the competition.