Esther Bewaji, a fourteen-year-old student of Silversands Hall School, Lekki, has emerged as the winner of the third edition of Nigeria Info’s “I Beg To Differ” Student Debate Competition.
She emerged winner after weeks of extensive debates on diverse socio-economic and political issues that pertain to the overall development of Nigeria.
Esther was awarded a one million Naira 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 250,000 Naira, a Bluetooth speaker, and a tablet.
The debate competition, which began in May 2022, had hundreds of applications from secondary school students between the ages of thirteen to seventeen years.
This is in a bid to create an educative platform that encourages Nigerian youths to hold intellectually-stimulating conversations that centre on the issues affecting the overall progress of the country.
The grand finale of the competition, which was broadcast live on Nigeria Info’s Hard Fact Show, had Esther Bewaji defeating Hameed Olarewaju, an SS2 student of Rainbow College Day School, Lekki, after debating on a socio-political topic which was entitled “Nigerians Are Getting the Politicians they Deserve”.
Speaking on the successful completion of the competition, Femi Obong Daniels, the 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 the various stages of the competition.
According to Femi Obong Daniels:
“I really want to use this medium to congratulate all the 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.”
An elated Esther Bewaji stated:
“I am deeply grateful to everyone who lent a helping hand in diverse ways while I was preparing for this debate competition. I must acknowledge that it was not an easy one as it stretched my abilities in every ramification. I am also grateful to Nigeria Info for giving me the opportunity to express my opinion on national and global issues.”
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 skills, through the debate sessions on national and global issues.
