Babcock wins NIPUD debate for private varsities

The Babcock University, Illisan-Remo, Ogun State, has won the maiden edition of the Nigeria Private Universities Debate sponsored by Diamond Bank Plc to promote scholarship, ideas and healthy competition among students.

This year’s debate, with the theme,  Nigeria’s Vision 20: 2020: The Facts, the Farce and the Figures, provided a  platform for undergraduates to contribute to the Federal Government policy aimed at providing a better future for Nigerians.The pioneer edition, according to the organisers, offered the undergraduates an opportunity “to research into the feasibility of Nigeria joining the world’s best 20 economies by the year 2020.”

The semi final and the final stages of the debate were hosted by Babcock on Thursday after the regional presentations were held in the six geo-political zones. Four institutions that made it to the semi-final are Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State; Babcock, Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State, and Igbinedion University, Okada, in Edo State.

At the semi final stage, WDU defeated Igbinedion University to set up a keen final with Babcock, which had beaten Fountain University.Babcock, represented by Okezi Meshack, Madu Chibuzor and Olusile Christiana, argued that Vision 20:2020 would only be achieved if the current rural-urban migration was reversed. The Babcock team beat Edwina Peters, Christabel Israel and Igbinobaro Paula of WDU, who opposed the motion to emerge the overall winner.

According to the panel of judges led by a professor of Literature at the Department of English, University of Ibadan, Ayo Kehinde, Babcock garnered a total of 250.1 points to emerge pioneer winners. WDU, he said, scored 231.8 points. Igbinedion University, with 235 points, came third, while Fountain University came fourth with 218.5 points.Kehinde, while declaring the result, lauded the initiative for offering the students opportunity to gain all-round knowledge.He explained that the debaters were rated on grammar, composure, presentation in-depth knowledge of international affairs, national economic and political policies.The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, enjoined other private universities to join the train and make the competition an event everyone would always look forward to.

He said his support for private universities was not aimed at killing public institutions but to engender healthy rivalry and competition and encourage the private sector to participate in the development of the nation’s university system.The representative of Diamond Bank, who is also the Regional Director (West), Mr. Sola Ajayi, said the financial institution’s support for the debate was part of its commitment to the rejuvenation of the country.