Following the Commonwealth Day Celebration 2022 where the debate competition first held at both the national and continental levels in all Commonwealth countries, three best exceptional speakers were selected to represent their countries at the global level drawing finalists from Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, America and Carribean continents.
In Nigeria, the Chief Speaker, Chineke Cajethan Goodluck was choosen from Abia State University Uturu, supported by Nwefuru Godstime Chiadikobi and Oduola Olaoluwa as second and third speakers from Ebonyi State University and Kwara State University respectively. Taking a flashback, it was recalled that the Commonwealth Society Ambassador for Nigeria, Ambassador Patricia Yakubu told journalists at the Commonwealth Day celebration with the theme ‘Delivering a Common Future’ in Abuja that this year’s celebration focuses on tertiary institutions.
“The significance of this celebration today is a celebration that is done all over the 54 Commonwealth countries. So in every year celebration, we bring up a program that binds us together as Commonwealth countries.“This year’s event is focusing on tertiary institutions, graduates and undergraduates, it brings young ones together from tertiary institutions, they conduct debates amongst them to bring out their talents. Most of these young ones end up getting the Commonwealth scholarship to study abroad”, she said.
In her speech continuation, she stated that at the final level, which is global, 3 countries featuring best 3 students from each of the continents including Africa where Nigeria was fully represented as the champion would be competing for the global trophy.
This year, the 12 countries; Canada, India, Turkey, Cyprus, Burundi, North America, Barbados, Bangladesh, Armenia, Poland, Nigeria and Thailand that advanced to the global stage had a healthy and competitive debates at several topics involving Commonwealth, International Trade, Technology, Education and Humanity, Ukrainian and Russian Wars and others which was held virtually. However, the Chief Judge, Dr. Paul Ugwu, a senior lecturer at the department of English Language and Literature Studies in Cyprus exercised his impressive satisfaction towards the inputs of younger generation. In his message, Dr. Paul said; “Today, it is rewarding to observe a modern, vibrant and connected Commonwealth that combines a wealth of history and tradition with the great social, cultural and technological advances of our time through International Debate and Awards. I know the Commonwealth stands ever taller is a credit to all those who have been involved especially the young ones, he said”.
Announcing this year’s global results, represntatives of Federal Republic of Nigeria emerged the overall Winner after accumulating an average score of 76%, Bangladesh emerged the first runner up with a cumulative score of 61% while Republic of Northern Cyprus of Turkey won the 3rd prize with 50%. The global adjudicators from USA, Canada, Ghana, UK and Cyprus have advised the Institutions, State and Federal Government of the winning representatives to celebrate their brain chaps in a grand style noting that achieving greatness and brilliancy in a global competition of such is very rare and if found should be treated like an egg inorder not to be broken.
