Fourteen-year-old Joseph Majesty Ojochegbe from Government Day Secondary School Karu has triumphed in the second season of Nigeria Info’s “I Beg to Differ” competition.

He walked away with the grand prize of one million naira after a nail-biting final against Helen Abu Francis.

Ojechegba, along with finalists Helen Abu Francis, Ruth Chikwere (third place), and Favour Anthony (fourth place), will now represent Abuja at the national competition in Lagos later this year.

The students tackled the contentious topic, “Nigeria is the Giant of Africa,” and a new segment called “The Nigerian Dream.”

The debate sparked lively discussions across Nigeria Info’s social media platforms, proving just how passionate listeners were about the issues.

A visibly excited Ojochegbe described the experience as “thrilling and adventurous.” He said, despite initial doubts, he gained confidence throughout the competition.

When asked about his prize money, he revealed a desire for a PS5 game console.

“I feel excited. Am wowed! It was thrilling. It was exciting. The I beg to differ Season 2 was an adventurous Journey. At the start I had doubts, but going further and seeing more debaters encouraged me. Motivated me that yes I can do this.”

Asked what he intends to do with the N1 million price money, he replied: “Sincerely it’s not my decision to make. It’s my parents. I will give it to them for motivating me, supporting me and bringing me this far.

If you were asked to buy one thing for yourself, what would that be?

“Maybe textbooks,” he said.

Mommy and Daddy will provide that for you. But if given some monies to buy something special for yourself, what would that be?

“A game then,” he says.

What type of Game?

“A PS5 Game console,” he replied/

Chief Judge Mijid Dahiru commended the high standard of the Nigeria Info FM Abuja’s “I Beg to Differ” Secondary Schools debate competition, highlighting the students’ confidence, knowledge, and composure.

Dr Dahiru noted the strong performance of FCT public school students, calling it a testament to the quality of public education in the region.

Dahiru also encouraged schools to revive their debating clubs, emphasizing the importance of nurturing young public speakers.

“The Participants were well prepared apparently. It was a tough one for us as judges because they performed so well, a number of them. …..the final day, was the toughest of all.

“We almost had a tie. The children displayed a lot of knowledge, composure, confidence and the ability to communicate their convictions on the side they are trying to debate.

“Overall, I think they are going to do well in Lagos. I think they have done well. For me, the major take away is that consistently children from public schools have led the pack. Season 1 was the same, this time around the winner is from a Government School in Karu.

“So it gives me a feeling that probably our public school system in Abuja is very much up to standard. And even though there is room for improvement, it is something to be cheerful about as residents of Abuja, that our public school system is bringing such quality out such quality of young minds that are able to debate and win competitions. And go ahead to represent the entire Abuja at the National Level,” he stressed.

Dahiru predicts the “I Beg to Differ” competition will continue to grow, becoming a highly sought-after event for schools across the territory.

“I think people should be allowed to speak with their natural intonation as long as their tenses are right. As long as they pronounce properly. I do not necessarily thing people should be boxed into queen’s English as a standard for speaking English.

“I think what schools should do, I think they need to resuscitate their debating societies. We used to have literary and debating societies in secondary school. When i was in secondary School, even though i was a science student, i wasn’t in the Jets club. I was in the literary and debating society and i was the president of the debating club.

“I will like schools to revive their debating societies, so as to nurture young minds that are willing, that have the talent to speak publicly, so that year in year out we have a churning out of talented public speakers that will dominate in their various endeavors in future.

“So, I think schools must begin to resuscitate, put together debating societies, and if possible have city debating clubs. it has become a big thing. The Prize money is 1 million this year, I want to believe that it is going to grow, it is going to improve, expand and so on.

“This is going to be the next big thing in Abuja. Nigerians do well with entertainment, Nigerians do well with sports. This is an intellectual exercise and I believe with the way we are going, and with the interest it is generating, the prize money will get higher than this.

“So, schools must begin to prepare to benefit from this. the good thing is that first, second and third prize get something and then they qualify to go to Lagos to get something even higher. It is something worth its while for schools to really prepare for by setting up debating society clubs in their various schools.”