By Emmanuel Elebeke

Abuja — Government Secondary School (GSS) Karu has emerged winner of the Nigeria Info “I Beg to Differ” Season 3 Grand Finale Debate, held recently in Abuja.

The school scored 57 percent, defeating Fountain School, Jikwoyi, which garnered 50.5 percent. The debate topic was: “International Institutions Influence Nigeria’s Policies More Than Citizens.”

Represented by Majesty Joseph and Precious Ukoh, GSS Karu secured the title for the second consecutive year. Speaking after the victory, Majesty Joseph said the win reflected a renewed sense of purpose, emphasizing growth, confidence, and the impact of debating beyond simply winning titles.

The debate was sponsored by Kira AI Limited, which reaffirmed its commitment to youth development, highlighting the role of debating in building confidence, critical thinking, and exploring opportunities in STEM fields.

Nigeria Info FM, represented by Programs Manager Swat Dunia Dalomo, noted that this year’s edition introduced team debates and support speakers, fostering collaboration, teamwork, and strategic thinking.

She also highlighted the program’s sustainability, with Lagos having hosted nine editions and Abuja now completing its third, and stressed plans for personalized outreach to increase school participation in future editions.

Students aged 13 to 16 participated, selected through sample debate submissions demonstrating strong oratory skills.

At the awards ceremony, GSS Karu received a ₦3 million cheque, runners-up Fountain School earned ₦2 million, while Government Science School, Maitama, finished in third place. The finalists from Abuja will now represent the region at the national level in Lagos.