The pair of Hassana Musa Abubakar and Boyi Lydia Kanku from Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga, emerged as the North-East Zonal winners of the 7-for-7 National Values Charter Campus Debate and Capacity Building Conference 2024.
They defeated Yunusa Abdullahi Barde and Jajere of Yobe State University, Damaturu, in the zonal finals of the competition organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Monday at the ASUP Secretariat, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.
After a keenly contested debate centred on the values of good citizenship, the judges declared Abubakar and Kanku winners with 466 points, while Barde and Jajere scored 445 points to emerge as runners-up.
The winning duo received a cash prize of N5 million, while the runners-up were awarded N2 million.
Speaking at the event, Tolu Meduna, Public Engagement Executive to the Director General of NOA and Programme Coordinator of the “Join the Value Train to Campus” initiative, emphasised the importance of sensitizing students on core citizenship values.
She highlighted that the programme aims to raise awareness and foster a culture of positivity among Nigerians. According to her, “You cannot rebuild Nigeria without rebuilding Nigerians. That is the essence of this programme. We are starting among students, who represent the largest area of mix.”
She stressed that the main focus of NOA is on the national values charter, which has a dual level from the government and the citizens, which will fashion out a better Nigeria and Nigerians.
In reaction, the winning pair described the victory as a result of hard work done through deep research and a lot of readings to be able to put a few points together for the competition in spite of the short time coupled with the fact that they are currently writing examinations.
The pair assured that having won the ticket to represent the North-East zone at the National Finals, they will go back to do more research and readings in order to understand the topic better considering the competition will be tougher at that level.
Also reacting, the pair from Yobe State University said that it was not easy emerging runners-up but to take solace in the fact that “We are not going back to Yobe empty-handed.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
The FCT Minister, who is currently in China on official engagements, described the incident as…
This, Kegbeh said, will be achieved through numerous collaborations with artistes from different countries to…
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Ebonyi State, has reinstated a washout on the Abakaliki/Enugu…
The awards were presented to the Twelve benefiting students by the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of…
The Governor commended journalists in Gombe State for their professionalism and their role in promoting…
“You are innovators and job creators, building small markets and transforming communities. Your skills are…
This website uses cookies.