School debate tournament begins today

The eight edition of a debate tournament for secondary school teens, “I Beg To Differ,” will commence today, August 12 and run till Thursday, August, 29, 2024, with 16 students across the country engaging in intellectually-stimulating conversations on topical national issues affecting the country’s corporate existence.

The competition, organised by Nigeria Info, is the first-ever national finals competition tagged Tournament of Champions for students between ages 13-17 years.

General Manager, Nigeria Info/Wazobia/Cool/Kids FM, Femi Obong-Daniels, who disclosed this during a media briefing in Lagos, noted that the competition is one of Nigeria Info’s flagship contents that aimed at lending a voice to the country’s young people through a platform to engage on issues that collectively affect the country.

He said that the winners of the competition would be awarded prizes and scholarship to support and develop their public-speaking skills and enhance their creativity. Obong-Daniels said that the 16 contestants were drawn from the zonal finals held during the last editions.

“Eight participants were drawn from the sixth and seventh editions of the tournament in Lagos, while four contestants came from Abuja’s Season One and three from Season Three, plus one contestant from Season Two of Port Harcourt edition.

“The big topics range from politics, governance, current affairs to human angle subjects.

“From my experience sitting there with those kids, I am so blown away at the quality and mindset of the contestants. As a Nigerian, it gives me hope because it tells me that if young people can engage intellectually about governance, country, policy, politics and current affairs, then it means there is hope.

“Some of them are so brilliant that you wonder what people were doing with their own life when they were 15, 16 or 17 years of age.”