Nigeria hosts World Schools Debate 2015

Posted by admin Headlines Sunday, October 26th, 2014

NIGERIA has been granted the hosting right for the 2015 World Schools Debate Competition, following brilliant performance of her contingents at the 2014 edition of the competition held in Bangkok.

Coordinator of the President’s School Debate, Mr Dare Oritu, made this known in Abuja during the week.

He added that the country won the hosting right, because Nigerian students, who represented the nation, dazzled at the Bangkok competition recently.

Oritu spoke while announcing the commencement of 54th Independence Anniversary School Debate competition, scheduled to hold between October 26 and 30 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

During the debate competition, young contingents from over 60 foreign countries are expected converge in Nigeria, to participate in the competition.

“Our performance at the last World Debate School championship has given Nigeria the right to host the next International Debate in Nigeria. By April next year, we are going to host the first World Schools Debate in Nigeria,” Oritu said.

It will be recalled that Nigeria was recently promoted to the rank of competition committee membership, which gave it an edge to host the next year edition.

Nigeria was initially expected to compete against Germany to host 2016 edition of the competition, but its participation in Bangkok earned it the 2015 hosting right.

Meanwhile, 26 out of the 36 states of the federation are expected to take part in the 54th Independence Anniversary Schools Debate competition.

According to former Minister of State for Education, Professor Jerry Agada, who is the chairman, Advisory Board of the President’s Schools Debate, the competition, earlier scheduled to coincide with the nation’s independence anniversary was put off, following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

“All of you might be wondering why there was a delay in organising the 54th Independence Anniversary Debate, reason being that the whole arrangement was made and we were to roll out our drums to do the independence celebration and you know this debate is inter basic education schools debate.

“We were to have students from the six geopolitical zones of the country to do the debate, so as to highlight the 54th independence of Nigeria.

“We had wanted them to do this debate to showcase what we do in Nigeria and why we are proud to celebrate our independence, but unfortunately, that particular time was when Ebola Virus Disease was at the height and, therefore, you were aware that schools were closed and all the activities that will bring people to associate and circulate the disease was avoided.

“We had to put the date on hold and decided to do it anytime that we are ready, so that our debaters would still show Nigerians what they can do in terms of debate.

“The debate was only delayed, it was not cancelled. Now that Nigeria is proud to be declared Ebola-free, the debate is even part of the celebration,” he said.wp_posts