LAUTECH Beats ABU Zaria, UNILORIN In Debate Competition

Two students from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, have emerged victorious in the 2024 National Orientation Agency (NOA) campus debate competition, surpassing Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in a fiercely contested intellectual showdown.

The winning duo, Adekunle Ayomide and Oladeji Oluwashina, captivated judges and audiences alike with their incisive arguments and eloquent delivery on the topic, “Criticising and dissenting peacefully while maintaining love for one’s country.”

Representing the Southwest geopolitical zone, the LAUTECH team edged out competitors from the other five zones, clinching the top prize of N20 million.

Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ilorin finished as first and second runner-ups, earning N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth positions went to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Gombe State Polytechnic, and the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, in that order.

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In addition to their winnings, the LAUTECH representatives received a supplementary prize of N1 million from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), underscoring their outstanding performance in the competition.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasised the essence of the debate in fostering youth participation in governance.

He underscored the importance of constructive criticism as a critical pillar of democracy and nation-building.

“Constructive criticism is not rebellion; it is a cornerstone of democracy and a vital tool for nation-building. Patriotism is not silence. Loving your country does not mean turning a blind eye to its shortcomings. It means recognising those shortcomings, speaking up against them constructively, and working together to find solutions,” Issa-Onilu said.

The director-general lauded all participants for their intellectual depth and encouraged them to remain advocates for peace, unity, and progress in their respective campuses and beyond.

Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of NELFund, also used the occasion to reaffirm the agency’s dedication to supporting Nigerian students through education loans, which aim to improve access to quality learning opportunities.