Osun State University has emerged third position in the 2014 edition of the Africa Regional Inter-University Debate Competition organised by the UNESCO Institute for African Culture and International Understanding in partnership with the Centre for Human Security and Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.The objective of the debate is to enhance communication and literary skills of university students in Africa, provide a platform for fostering collegiality among students from different universities in Africa with the long-term benefit of promoting African unity and derive solutions to developmental challenges facing African countries from the unique lens of the youth and future leaders.
Thirteen African countries from Benin Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger Republic, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Nigeria participated in the debate which saw Crawford University and Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone taking the first and second positions respectively while Osun State University came third.
The two participants from Osun State University
The lead speaker from Osun State University, Miss Ogundele was adjudged the best speaker in one of the sessions. The award was presented by the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Centre for Human Security, Professor Akin Mabogunje.
At the event were His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Hon. Carl Masters; Professor Hassana Alidou, the Director of UNESCO Regional Multi-Sectoral Office for West Africa; Dr. Minkailu Bah, the Honourable Minister of Education, Science and Technology of Sierra Leone; Professor Juma Shabani from UNESCO Paris; Professor Tunde Babawale; Professor Peter Okebukola; Ambassador Dr. Mary Khimulu; Dr. Christopher Kolade, the former SURE-P Chairman who is the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Institute of African Culture and International Understanding and Vice-Chancellors from the Nigerian Universities.