Veritas University Debate Society has emerged winner of the 14th Africa University Debate Championship held in Nairobi, Kenya.
With the victory, Veritas University Debate Society becomes the first to bring the African Debate Trophy to Nigeria.
Kwameh Nkrumah University of Science and Technology followed Veritas University closely in the second position while University of Ghana came third.
Receiving the trophy in Abuja, the Vice Chancellor of Veritas University Abuja, Professor Hyacinth Ichoku said despite the challenges confronting tertiary education, Nigerian students are still winning laurels and making the nation proud in global competitions.
In the words of Professor Hyacinth Ichoku:
“Is a remarkable feat like this coming from the private sector, is a giant stride in salvaging the nation’s education system thereby retaining its place as the giant of Africa.”
Professor Ichoku said Veritas University Abuja Debate Society would represent Africa in the Intercontinental Debate in New York, USA on the 1st of April 2023 and the World Universities Debate in Madrid, Spain in June 2023 respectively.
One of Nigeria’s representatives to the competition and students of Veritas University Abuja, Edwin Ocheida said it was a stiff competition between debate clubs comprising public and private universities across the length and breadth of Africa among which were University of Ghana, Kwameh Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Strathmore University, Alex Ekwueme University, to mention but a few.
Pan African Universities Debating Championship, (PAUDC) is the biggest Intercollegiate Debate Championship on the African Continent established in 2008 by the University of Botswana Debate Masters Association. It is a platform that affords students from all universities within the continent to discuss issues of Africa and beyond.
Veritas University Debate Society defeated other universities such as University of Calabar, University of Lagos, University of Ilorin and twenty others, to qualify to represent Nigeria at the 14th Africa University Debate Championship in Nairobi.
Other members of the debate team include Ayafa Amada-Tonye, Yetunde Oshinewo, Uguru Grace and Gbenga Zacchaeus.
