Debating is gradually becoming the engine of democracy, the currency of the boardroom, and the framework for family dinner discussions.
As Lagos prepares for the Dare2Debate event this December, the spotlight turns not just to what is argued, but how.
“Winning a debate requires more than just having the right information,” says Davies Ikpoyi, organizer of the December 13 event. “It demands strategy, persuasion, and a deep understanding of the topic at hand.”
The anatomy of a formidable debater is multifaceted. It begins with being deeply informed, armed with facts and a command of the subject’s structure. Yet knowledge alone is inert. It must be delivered with the precision of a performer: through controlled volume, deliberate pacing, and a voice that emphasizes key phrases without slipping into theatricality. The body speaks, too, through confident posture, engaged eye contact, and gestures that underscore rather than distract.
But the true test occurs in the crucible of exchange.
The first rule is to listen actively and strategically. It is in the gaps of an opponent’s logic, the unsupported statistic, the emotional leap, where openings emerge.
A well-placed question: “Where did you source that data?” can unravel a carefully constructed case faster than a volley of facts.
Credibility is forged in clarity. Conciseness trumps verbosity; powerful, accessible language defeats jargon. The goal is not to sound the smartest in the room, but to be the most understood. This requires intellectual humility, the willingness to concede a point gracefully when the evidence demands it, a move that often strengthens one’s overall position.
Perhaps the most demanding skill is to divorce argument from identity. The adept debater avoids ad hominem attacks, understanding that the person is not the position. Staying calm and objective, even when provoked, keeps the focus on facts and logic, the true battleground of persuasion.
A rigid argument is a losing one. Effective debaters pivot, introducing new material or shifting their line of attack when needed. They refute by first acknowledging an opponent’s point briefly, then dismantling it with stronger evidence, a technique that demonstrates respect while asserting dominance.
This delicate alchemy of skill and psychology will be on display at Dare2Debate, an initiative by HACmedia under its “Think, Speak, and Lead” program.
On Saturday, December 13, at 25 Adekunle Fajuyi Way in Ikeja GRA, four top Lagos schools will compete, drawing thinkers, educators, and stakeholders to the intimate venue.
So, is debating for everyone? In essence, yes. While not all will take the stage, the principles of effective debate; listening, reasoning, and communicating with respect, are tools for anyone navigating an increasingly complex world.
