Bewaji emerges Nigeria Info’s Student Debate Champion



General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info, Femi Obong-Daniels (left); 2nd Runner-up, Qoowiyyah Wuraola Salam; Winner, Esther Bewaji; 1st Runner-up, Hameed Olanrewaju and Group Head of Marketing, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info, Olubukola Chidi at the presentation of awards for the third edition of the “I Beg To Differ” Student Debate Tournament.<br />

The competition, which began in May 2022, attracted hundreds of applications from secondary school students in Lagos State between ages 13 and 17.

The grand finale of the competition had Bewaji defeating Hameed Olanrewaju, an SS2 student of Rainbow College Day School, Lekki, after debating on a socio-political topic, titled “Nigerians are getting politicians they deserve.”

Speaking on the successful completion of the competition, Femi Obong Daniels, General Manager of Corporate Affairs for Cool FM, Wazobia FM and Nigeria Info, commended the contestants for demonstrating a high level of brilliancy and resilience to pull through various stages of the competition.

“I want to use this medium to congratulate contenders who have pulled through the various stages of the debate tournament. I understand it is not an easy process as you all have been challenged to stretch your intellectual capacity by debating complex socio-economic issues of both national and global importance. I must acknowledge the fact that you all have displayed an impressive level of resilience and I am confident that this debate tournament has impacted you with some positive experiences you are going to cherish as you progress in life,” he said.

Expressing her excitement after emerging winner of the competition, Bewaji, expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her in achieving success.

Esther was awarded N1, 000,00 cash prize, a laptop, and a tablet, while the first-runner up, Hameed Olanrewaju, received 500, 000 naira, a smartphone, and a tablet. The second-runner up, Qoowiyyah Wuraola Salam, an SS2 student of At-Tanzeel Schools, won N250, 000, a Bluetooth speaker, and a tablet.

The “I Beg To Differ” Student Debate Tournament is a youth-led brainchild of Nigeria Info, which aims to develop the intellectual capabilities of Nigerian youths, including their public-speaking skill, through debate sessions on national and global issues.