Madonna University Students brace up for Debate finals

Four departments in Madonna University, Okija Campus in Anambra State have qualified for the final round of the institution’s annual inter-departmental students’ debate. According to a statement from the institution, the four departments are Mass Communication, Law, Philosophy and Accountancy. It noted that departments of Mass Communication and Law beat English and Literary Studies and […]

Four departments in Madonna University, Okija Campus in Anambra State have qualified for the final round of the institution’s annual inter-departmental students’ debate.

According to a statement from the institution, the four departments are Mass Communication, Law, Philosophy and Accountancy.

It noted that departments of Mass Communication and Law beat English and Literary Studies and International Relations departments to qualify for the final round of the exercise.

Speaking on the debate, the Coordinator of Madonna University Debate competition, Dr. Tony Nkemakolam, noted that it is a purely academic exercise, and urged the participants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship.

Also speaking, the Chaplain and Administrator of Madonna University, Okija campus, Rev.Fr. Francis Nwachukwu, commended the decorum and maturity displayed by the students throughout the first and second stages of the competition and urged them to see it as a challenge to develop their skills and intellect.

“You should all practice love for one another and imbibe discipline; take your studies very seriously to justify the huge investments on you by your parents; and always be good ambassadors of the University wherever you find yourselves,” the Chaplain advised.

 

In their separate remarks, Chairperson of the Madonna University Debate committee, Dr. (Mrs.) Uche Oboko and the University Orator, Mr. Charles Eze also commended the students for what they described as their ‘can-do spirit’ and urged them not to relent.

They further charged the students to see the exercise as a friendly competition aimed at tasking their intellects and warned them not to see it as a do-or die exercise.

The 2017/2018 phase of the competition commenced with seventeen (17) departments. The final round of the debate, with the topic: “Nigeria’s 2019 Presidential election: a candidate from my discipline, the hope of Nigeria’s advancement” is expected to hold on a date to be announced by the university soon.

It will be recalled that the Law faculty was represented in the competition by: Tiku Ebam Okorinyen, Udolisa Chibuzor and Deborah Ngonadi; Philosophy department was represented by: Daniel Obi, Maurice Ugochukwu and Justin Obiesika; Accountancy department was represented by: Nancy Ejimole, Joy Anumba and Edmund Iwunze; while the department of Mass Communication was represented by three hot intellectuals: Chinyere Linda Agbasiere, Adaeze Monday and Juliet Ogbozor.

The second stage of the event held yesterday was attended by: Head of Exams and Records of Okija campus of the university, Rev. Father Tobias Ozioko; Acting Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Walter Duru; Head of Department of Economics, Dr. Theophilus Ugwoke; Professor (Mrs.) Bernadette Chukwuneke, head of the Panel of Judges, Stephen Kenechukwu and Timothy Onyejelem.

Other members of the Panel are: Dr. Calistus Ogu and Dr. K.C. Obi. Thousands of undergraduate and graduate students of Okija campus of the university were also in attendance to cheer their colleagues to success.

The event also featured musical, choral and drama presentations by some of the highly talented students of the university.

It will be recalled that last year’s winners of the debate were given automatic scholarship by the University authorities, a development that may be responsible for the keen contest among the students.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Chuks Ezedum, is expected to declare the final round of the debate open.