Ogun Tops Southwest in NOA Debate
Ogun State has emerged winner of the Southwest zonal stage of the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) National Campus Debate Series, defeating competitors from five other States in a spirited contest at the June 12 Cultural Center, Abeokuta.
Represented by Mountain Top University, Ogun State clinched the top spot with 167 points, beating Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Oyo State, which scored 159 points, and Osun State College of Education, which placed third with 158 points.
Ogun’s win qualifies it to represent the Southwest at the National Grand Finale in Abuja, which will hold during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations.
The debate, themed “Unity in Diversity: Defining National Identity in Nigeria’s Multicultural Society,” gathered students from Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ondo, and Ekiti, who delivered compelling arguments on how Nigeria’s cultural and ethnic diversity can be transformed into a source of national strength.
The National Orientation Agency Campus Debate Series is an Annual civic engagement initiative launched to foster patriotism, encourage critical thinking, and strengthen national identity among Nigerian youths.
It was conceived as part of NOA’s broader mission to promote unity and responsible citizenship across the country.
The debate runs in three stages:
- State preliminaries where institutions compete locally.
- Zonal contests, like the Abeokuta event, bringing together State champions from each Geopolitical Zone.
- The National Grand Finale in Abuja, where zonal winners compete for the overall title in front of National Leaders, Educators, and Stakeholders.
The programme not only nurtures public speaking and intellectual skills but also gives young Nigerians a platform to voice their perspectives on National issues, reinforcing their role as Agents of change.
For Ogun’s winning team, the victory was both an honor and a responsibility.
“We are excited to represent the Southwest at the finals,” said one of the Mountain Top University debaters, visibly elated.
“This debate has shown that young Nigerians can rise above tribal differences to speak for a united Country.”
Another participant from Lagos emphasized:
“Our differences are not barriers; they are bridges to a stronger nation if only we learn to respect and celebrate them.”
NOA’s Southwest Zonal Director, Mrs. Francisca Olufunke Salako, said the debate series is designed to produce “patriotic youths who can think beyond ethnic lines, argue with facts, and commit themselves to the project of nation-building.”
She added that beyond intellectual competition, the event promotes values of tolerance, peace, and constructive dialogue.
At the Abeokuta event, NOA also unveiled its new CLEAN App, a civic-tech platform that enables citizens to access verified government information, report issues in their communities, and engage directly with public institutions.
Officials described it as a tool to enhance transparency and accountability Nationwide.
As the Abeokuta hall erupted in celebration for Ogun State’s victory, the bigger message of the day was clear: Nigeria’s youth are ready to embrace diversity, not as a source of division, but as the foundation of a shared National Identity.
With Ogun carrying the Southwest’s hopes to Abuja, attention now shifts to the grand finale, where the brightest young minds from across the six zones will compete for National Honours — and the chance to send a united message to the Nation.
