By Prisca Sam-Duru

Activities marking the 10th anniversary of the late Ooni of Ile-Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, continued during the week, with the grand finale of the Inter-State Inter-School debate.

The Three-State Inter-School debate was part of a series of cultural, intellectual, and commemorative events marking the 10th anniversary of the passing of the respected monarch.

It featured students from King’s College, Lagos; Abeokuta Grammar School—Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s alma mater; and Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife.

The commemorative event is a tribute to Oba Sijuade’s enduring legacy as a custodian of culture, a bridge-builder across Nigeria, and a global advocate for African heritage.

The memorial activities organized in partnership with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, are spearheaded by the Co-chairmen of the Council, Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, with 

His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, the Sultan of Sokoto. The Three-State Inter-School debate tour, which was a key highlight of the celebration, was themed, “Traditional Governance vs. Modern Democracy: Which Best Preserves Cultural Heritage?”

The topic had students exploring the relevance of indigenous leadership in today’s world. The final debate presentation 

held on Wednesday at King’s College, Lagos, and had Ezennaya Derek and Gbadebo Benjamin on Team A, while Ugwude Rhema and Okon Mitchel were on Team B. At the end of the heated debate on whether traditional governance best preserves cultural heritage or whether modern democracy does, the judges, Samuel Osaze and Feyi Adelakun, adjudged Team A the winner. Their argument that indigenous leadership structures should be given more authority in governance so as to sustain our cultural identity, got them ahead of their fellow debaters. The eloquence and boldness of the debaters were highly commendable. Gbadebo Benjamin from Team A and Ugwude Rhema from Team B emerged best debaters. They were all rewarded with gifts including a cash award of two hundred and fifty thousand naira to each debater, courtesy of the Royal family.

Presenting the cash reward to the debaters, Prince Aderemi Sijuwade, commended the students for their performance during the debate. He said that King’s College has always been known to be great among schools, noting that the reward was to show how much they are valued. 

In his opening speech, Director/Principal, King’s College, Magaji Zachariah Cheye, described his school’s involvement in the debate, as a great privilege and honor, stressing that it puts the school on the scene of things in the global arena. He urged the debaters to showcase what they’ve learned as students of King’s College, adding, “I see future presidents among you. Show the world that you have learned excellently well. If your predecessors couldn’t become presidents, you can.”

“In his closing remarks, the Curator and Consultant to the Sijuwade Royal Family for the Sijuwade Memorial Celebrations, 

Dr. Oludamola Adebowale expressed profound gratitude to the principal and dedicated staff of King’s College for graciously hosting the final leg of the debate series. He commended the students for their intellectual brilliance, eloquence, and passion, stating that the future of Nigeria is bright with such young minds leading thoughtful discourse. Adebowale further emphasized that the “Sijuwade Memorial Debate was not just a competition, but a platform to ignite critical thinking and civic engagement among the next generation of leaders.”