By Ikenna Asomba

Expectations are indeed high over the performance of Nigeria’s representatives for the 2015 World Schools Debating Championship, currently holding in Singapore and ending on August 6, 2015.

Members of Team Nigeria during a mock debate

Being the 27th edition, the Nigerian representatives who are school children from Anambra and Kaduna States, left the country last Weekend, having emerged winner and first runners-up at the President’s Schools Debates in Nigeria. The competition kicked-off on July 27.

They were however engaged in a mock debate at the Conference Hall of University of Ibadan Hotel, before their departure. Present at the mock debate were former Minister of Education and Chairman, President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, Prof. Jerry Agada, and members of Board, as well as the Anambra state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, among others.

Team Nigeria were early taken on a 10-day training at the University of Ibadan, to prepare ahead for the world debating competition in Singapore. Before leaving Nigeria, they were treated to a grand reception by the Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, at the Oyo State Government House, Ibadan.

The contingents representing Nigeria at the world tournament are: James Chukwuebuka Obochi from Army Day Secondary School, Onitsha; Divine  Adachukwu Onyekwena, Girls Secondary School Awka; Chinemerem Susanna Oguaba, Awada Secondary School, Obosi, Nneka Precious Chigozie, Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji, and Nnamdi Chigozie Udorji from Dennis Memorial Grammar School Onitsha, all in Anambra State. Others are Anas Abubakar of Government Secondary School, Rigasa Kaduna, Victor Joy Ohwofasin of Airforce Secondary School Kaduna, and Mathew Kuyan of St. Francis College, Manchok, in Kaduna State.

The debaters are going in the company of their coaches, Amaka Anaekwe of Ezeike High School, Nibo and Nwabunwanne Igwediani of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Ogidi, as well as Ray Offor of the Anambra State Ministry of Education and Barrister Lizzy Umeh of the Anambra State Post Primary Schools Service Commission.

Speaking at the event, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Adeyemo Moses, said the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, is aimed at developing the intellectual ability of the Nigerian child, pointing that Oyo State was excited to host the Nigeria’s representatives.

Ajimobi, advised the Team Nigerian, to be ambassadors of their country, urging them to see the exercise as an opportunity to make Nigeria proud.
Reacting to the performance of the contingents in the mock-debate entitled “This House Will Ban the Use of Zero Hour Contract,” Agada recalled that the President’s Schools Debate was approved in the year 2000 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that its aim was to inculcate the habit of debate and the negotiation into school children.

“The President’s Schools Debates Nigeria was aimed at preparing the children of Nigeria on how to talk convincingly in order to get what they want, especially in the contemporary world, which has adopted democracy as the best form of Government. In a country like ours, debate is the hallmark of any business in legislation. Therefore, this initiative was geared towards the reversing the ugly trend of lack of interest in reading habit among school children.”

Reacting to the mock debate, the Board Chairman of the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, Prof. Jerry Agada, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of Nigeria’s representatives from Anambra State Schools. He described them as brilliant and very obedient to rules guiding the camping, pointing out that their selection was based on their best performance in the President’s Schools Debate Competition conducted among states in Nigeria