‘The Debaters’ seeks to build future leaders through oratory ‘- Producers

The executive producer of The Debaters and the founder, Inspire Africa, Mo Abudu, said at the launch of season two in Lagos that “we strongly believe we and our sponsors are building and preparing the future leaders of tomorrow for Nigeria.” She added that “the show is wholly focused on showcasing and promoting the intrinsic […]

The executive producer of The Debaters and the founder, Inspire Africa, Mo Abudu, said at the launch of season two in Lagos that “we strongly believe we and our sponsors are building and preparing the future leaders of tomorrow for Nigeria.”

She added that “the show is wholly focused on showcasing and promoting the intrinsic power, as well as the potential of the art of debate to inspire positive change and transformation within the society.”

The Debaters finalists, 14 of them, who emerged through a rigorous national screening from 500 applicants, will be housed in the Talk Academy for 13 weeks. They will be trained by professional speech coaches in the art of debate.

The “Talk Mates”, 7 women and 7 men, will battle it out and the winner will walk out of the Academy with a Toyota Rav 4, courtesy Mandillas Motors, N3.5 million and a VEDA laptop. The first runner up takes home N1 million and a VEDA laptop while the second runner up will cart home N500, 000 and a VEDA laptop.

Abudu said the winner will emerge based on his or her ability to effectively communicate thought provoking and well chosen words, strong and charismatic personality, freshness of thought and logic, passionate and convincing arguments and rebuttals.

The programme, which will commence screening on Silver Bird Television, Channels TV and Africa Magic, September 25, is sponsored by GTBank, GT Assurance, Sweet Sensation, Veda, T.M. Levin, Mobos and the Pan African University. The Talk Mates entered the Talk Academy yesterday, September 18.

Beyond the decisions of the judges during the show, winners will also be decided through votes by viewers. All votes will be verified by Alexander Forbes.