Adebayo, Khadijat Bello Urge Nigerian Students to Embrace Patriotism, Speak Truth to Power at Dare2Debate 2.0

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has urged Nigerian students to embrace patriotism and remain committed to building a better country, while the Peoples Democratic Party’s deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Khadijat Bello, has charged them to use platforms such as Dare2Debate to sharpen their critical thinking and learn to speak truth to power.

The political figures spoke at the second edition of Dare2Debate, organised by HACmedia Communications at the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, where Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School emerged champion after defeating Dazille College, Agege, in the grand finale.

Adebayo encouraged the students to remain resilient and recognise their role in shaping Nigeria’s future, urging them to develop a strong sense of national responsibility and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.

He said young people must be prepared to take ownership of the nation’s future rather than surrender to the challenges confronting the country, stressing the importance of patriotism in building a better Nigeria.

Bello, on her part, urged the participants to conduct themselves responsibly and take advantage of opportunities that encourage intellectual growth and constructive engagement with public issues.

She said initiatives such as Dare2Debate could help students develop the confidence and analytical skills required to question authority responsibly, defend their positions with facts and speak truth to power.

Bello also encouraged the students to see debating as more than a competition, describing it as an opportunity to cultivate the discipline, critical thinking and communication skills needed for leadership.

Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School clinched the championship trophy and grand prize after defeating Dazille College in a contest that showcased the participants’ public speaking, critical thinking and argumentative abilities.

Both schools earned their places in the final after overcoming their opponents in the semi-final rounds. Bishop Howells defeated defending champions CMS Grammar School, while Dazille College secured victory over Golden Heights School.

The grand finale featured a freestyle debate round, with contestants given four minutes and three minutes, respectively, to present and defend their arguments.

Also, a rights advocate, Steve Odole, commended the organisers for creating a platform for young people to develop their intellectual abilities, stressing the importance of responsible thinking and engagement among students.

The convener of Dare2Debate, Davies Ikpoyi, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the participating schools throughout the programme, from the training sessions and preliminary rounds to the final contest.

He said the initiative was established to nurture a generation of bold, knowledgeable and forward-looking young leaders capable of contributing to national development.

The second edition builds on the maiden competition held last year at Femi Falana Chambers in Ikeja, which CMS Grammar School won.

With Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School taking the title this year, the competition continues its drive to promote intellectual development, public speaking and leadership among secondary school students.