LAGOS/Nigeria: Students from Lagos State’s six education districts have commenced a fierce contest of intellect and eloquence at the maiden Lagos Schools Debate Competition (LSDC), a three-day academic event aimed at preparing young Nigerians for global debating platforms.
The competition, organised by lawyer and education advocate, Bukunmi Babatunde, in partnership with DebateChamps and the Harvard Debate Council, USA, opened on Friday at the British International Junior School, Victoria Island, bringing together qualified schools from across the state’s education districts.
Speaking at the event, Babatunde said the initiative was designed to expand Nigerian students’ exposure to international debating standards while equipping them with critical thinking, public speaking and policy analysis skills necessary for success in a rapidly changing world.
She explained that the competition goes beyond classroom learning by encouraging students to think independently, analyse complex issues and confidently defend their positions on matters of public interest.
According to her, the programme is part of a broader vision to nurture globally competitive Nigerian students through sustained mentorship, training and participation in local and international debate competitions.
“We are bridging the gap between Nigerian students and the international debate space through structured training, exposure and consistent engagement with global standards of argumentation,” she said.
Babatunde expressed concern that despite the abundance of intellectual talent in Nigerian schools, students remain largely underrepresented in global debate circuits.
She attributed the challenge partly to overreliance on memorisation, noting that many students struggle with spontaneous reasoning and argument development during competitive debates.
Also speaking, Co-Convener of the competition, Dr. Halimat Usman, stressed the need for students to embrace analytical reasoning and structured thinking rather than depending solely on prepared speeches.
She described the collaboration with the Harvard Debate Council as a strategic partnership that would expose participants to world-class debating techniques and international best practices.
“True debate excellence begins when preparation meets pressure, requiring students to think critically, respond intelligently and defend ideas beyond memorised content under real competition conditions,” Usman said.
She added that the Lagos Schools Debate Competition would serve not only as a contest but also as a talent identification platform aimed at discovering and grooming future national and international debate champions.
In an emotional remark, Mrs. Funmilayo Babatunde, mother of the convener, described the initiative as a source of immense pride and fulfilment.
She commended the organisers and supporters for their commitment to empowering young Nigerians and creating opportunities that would place them on the global stage.
“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and proud of my daughter. This initiative reflects a genuine passion for helping Nigerian children compete internationally and showcase their talents to the world,” she said.
The organisers called on government agencies, schools, parents and private sector stakeholders to support debate education as a tool for intellectual development and leadership training.
They also unveiled plans to expand the competition nationally, introduce continental debate contests, develop recorded training programmes and establish continuous mentorship platforms aimed at producing a new generation of globally competitive student debaters.
