Miss Goodluck Akinlawon, a 400-level Law student at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has emerged as the winner of the Amnesty International Nigeria Intervarsity Debate Competition.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Miss Odebela Onamela of Baze University, Abuja, secured second place. At the same time, Mr Alexander Boro of the University of Benin, Edo State, came third. Mr Oladele Oluwanifemi of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, finished in fourth position.
The competition, which featured participants from 16 universities across the country, provided a platform for students to engage in critical discourse on contemporary human rights issues. The initiative aims to nurture a new generation of human rights defenders through academic engagement and civic education.
Speaking at the event on Friday in Abuja, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr Isa Sanusi, stated that the programme was designed to promote a culture of debate among young people in tertiary institutions. He noted that fostering debate encourages tolerance, maturity, and mutual respect, even when opinions differ significantly.
“Somebody may even say things that are offensive to you, but the extent to which you can tolerate that view is a show of your maturity and your humanity because we can never be the same, no matter what. Mr Sanusi remarked. He further commended all the participating students and their supporting lecturers, affirming that “there are no losers in this competition—everyone is a winner.”
Mr Sanusi urged Nigerian youths to remain actively engaged in the defence of human rights, stating that such efforts are vital to building a just and equitable society.
Also speaking at the event, Ms Barbara Magaji, Programme Manager at Amnesty International Nigeria, emphasised that the debate aligns with the organisation’s mandate to promote human rights and enhance public awareness. She explained that the competition served not only as a contest but also as a tool for human rights education and youth engagement.
“Human rights are the concern of everyone as human beings. Therefore, we believe it is essential to start engaging with our youth from the secondary school level and in tertiary institutions.
“This is for them to begin to engage on topical issues that are of concern, and then the demand for human rights,” she said.
Miss Akinlawon, who emerged as the winner of the debate, expressed her appreciation to Amnesty International for organising the initiative. She described the experience as both exciting and rewarding, notably as it marked her first time representing her university at an external debate event.
“It has not been an easy journey, but I am very pleased with the outcome,” she said. “What helped me was using the British Parliamentary style of debate; it worked in my favour.”
She encouraged other young people to be courageous in standing up for human rights, regardless of their background or location, and to take active roles in national discourse and development.
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