OVER 1000 students drawn from
tertiary institutions across the country fought the 2017 Oratory Battle with a
law student of the University of Abuja, Ugo Ijeoma Ndianiefo, emerging the
winner of the N1 million star price.
Ndianiefo, from Otolo Nnewi, has
also proceeded to one week leadership training in South Africa for his
ingenuity and prowess in oratory. Among the stakeholders in education who
watched the intellectual battle in Awka, Anambra State capital, included the
state the Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha, the Dean,
Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof, Chinyere
Stella Okunna, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Primary education,
Lady Pat Offia.
Others included the Commander,
Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the state, Mr. Sule Momodu,
Deputy Registrar, GSS, UNIZIK, Ngozi Bekky Adirika, Prof Ike Odumegwu, Prof
Ngozi Ezeadi, Federal Commissioner of National Population Commission, Prof Chika
Muo, Prof Ogo Ibeneme, state Secretary, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA,
Nnamdi Anagor and Nollywood star, Dike Obi.
Sponsor of the programme, Rev Fr.
Bonachristus Umeogu handing over a cheque of N1m to the winner Ugo Ndianiefo
The intellectual war which is an annual event is the brainchild of the Rev Fr
(Prof) Bonachristus Umeogu and the triplets who founded VIP-Hub Media including
Ekene, Chiagozie and Elochukwu Ezeumeanya. The participants spoke on Nigeria’s
qualification as entrepreneurial hub of Africa.
Proponents of the verbal battle
argued that Nigeria has groomed and nurtured young entrepreneurs and have
advanced the economy of Africa through its rich culture, business ideas and
orientation as well as its population. But the opponents wondered why Nigeria
should be regarded as the entrepreneurial hub of Africa while only few
individuals were entrepreneurs amid lack of power supply, multiple taxation
among others.
Finalists in the oratory competition
included Akwue Chisom, Ugwu Simeon, Anidebe Collins, Nwenyi Ogechi, Nweke
Chioma, Nwogo Hillary, Eze Nwakuba and Akpalankwu Alexander. Others were
Okou-Akirika Ginika, Mgbeoji Chikwelite, Ezennaya Faith, Placid Martins, Ozoani
Chukwuebuka, Ugo Ijeoma Ndianiefo and Adierem Jennifer. At the end of the competition,
Ndianiefo came first with 83.3 points, followed by Nwenyi Ogechi, Placid
Martins, Eze nwakuba and Anidebe Collins in that order.
According to Ekene Ezeumenya, the annual event
was established in 2011 as a literary Insight Network, LIN. It was a university
based club that frequently organized book and poetry reading sessions and
reviews for its members.
However, Prof Umeogu said that the
debate was aimed at encouraging youths into constructive thinking that would
make them take their destinies in their hands.
“We are seriously looking forward to
seeing the future belonging to the youths; we also need youths who can wait and
not be tired of waiting and youths with critical thinking who can solve the
problems of Nigeria , thereby creating standards or values. “Some people,
especially the youths move with the crowd and hence, lose their vision,
identity and point of view in life.
We are seriously looking for a
civilized future. “If one is a leader and doesn’t care about the person he is
leading, it is doom and that is why we must all strive to build a civilized
society” he said. On her part, Prof Okunna expressed optimism that the future
would be better for Nigerian youths. “I am optimistic that there is hope for
Nigeria.
Nigeria has great potentials but we
are not utilizing it. We need Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, to grow
but my worry is that the SMEs may not thrive unless the power sector improves,”
she added.
1 Comments
This is encouraging
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