UNIVERSITY OF ÌLỌRIN DEBATE CLUB EMERGES ZONAL CHAMPION AT MAIDEN AfCFTA AFRICA YOUTH TRADE CHALLENGE 2023
The University of Ilorin Debate Community has once again proven its excellence by emerging as the Zonal Champion at the inaugural Africa Youth Trade Debate Challenge (AYTDC) organized by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) secretariat in collaboration with Speech Forces. The event aimed to engage young people in Africa about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and raise awareness of the role African youth can play in achieving the goals and benefiting from the AfCFTA.
The participating institutions from across the continent were divided into two zones: English and French. Each zone had eight regions, represented by the top university from each region. The University of Ilorin Debate Community (UILDC) proudly represented Nigeria in this prestigious competition. The preliminary stages were held virtually, and UILDC advanced to the Zonal finals after defeating Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), representing Ghana, in the knockout stage held on Saturday, June 10th, 2023. Subsequently, the team faced Stratmore University of Kenya in the Zonal finals on Saturday, June 24th, and emerged as the victors.
As a result of their remarkable achievement, the University of Ilorin Debate Community has earned an all-expenses-paid trip sponsored by the AfCFTA secretariat to participate in the Grand Finals in Lusaka, Zambia, scheduled from July 19th to 21st. The Grand Finals will determine the continental winners in both the English and French streams.
On behalf of Unilorites, the Students' Union would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to the following team members for their outstanding contributions:
1. Adebara Tobiloba: Faculty of Life Sciences.
2. Ayodele Samuel: Faculty of Engineering and Technology.
3. Olafisoye Tolulope: Faculty of Law.
4. Owolabi Victor: Faculty of Education.
5. John-Kalio Peace: Faculty of Law.
The team was led by Coach Oloruntoyin MuhammadBaqir from the Faculty of Agriculture, with Sodiq Farihan, also from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, serving as the Team Captain and Assistant Coach.
We commend them for their remarkable performance and status which upholds the Better-By-Far nature of the University and also wish them all the best in the upcoming finals.
We also charge other Unilorites to always strive for outstanding excellence in their various quests.