Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Thursday, 8 February 2023, hosted the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Council (JCC) Osun State Axis inter-institutional debate at AUD 2.
The theme of this competition: revolutionalizing the Nigerian educational curriculum: a crucial debate for the future of the nation, with seven institutions participating: Osun State College of Health Technology, Ilesa; University of Ilesa; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Osun State Polytechnic, Ire; Osun State College of Education; and Osun State University.
Several guests, including the Osun State First Lady, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, represented by Mrs. Nwalu Caroline Oluchi, Dr. and Prof. Adejumoke Adelowo; Comr. Pedro Obi Chibuzo, NANS national president; and Comr. Adedamola Taiwo, Chairman NAN JCC Osun, among others, graced this competition.
In her goodwill message, the first lady, represented by Prof. Adejumoke Adelowo, appreciated the youths for their support for the election of her husband, Gov. Ademola Adeleke.
Addressing the theme, Prof. Adelowo noted that the first lady has a keen interest in the education of youths across the state. Emphasising the need for a regular revision of the curriculum.
She said, “We know that we can’t still stay in the stone age, and curriculum in the present day must move with the technology.”
The three-man panel of judges, which includes Dr. Oluyemi Omotosho, Hon. Ife Ebenezer Oluwasegun, SSA to the Governor, and Barr. Pelumi Olagengbesi, who was represented by Comr. Alapa Oladapo Clinton, judged the contestants on five criteria, which include knowledge of the topic, content/style, presentation, personality and spoken English.
The contestants from the seven institutions: Owoeye Pelumi Feranmi, Adeyinka Adedamola David, Oyebami Iyanuoluwa, Odeyemi Ifeoluwa Emmanuel, Asinobi Abraham Blessing, Peter Oyewumi and Ayannira Boluwatife argued fiercely on the theme and tackled questions thrown at them from the audience.
University of Osun emerged as the winner of the debate with an aggregate of 77.6%, with OAU in second place with 77.3% and Osun State College of Health Technology in third place with 70%.