Nigeria’s classrooms are filled with voices waiting to be heard, sharp, questioning minds eager to challenge assumptions and recreate their country’s future.
Yet, too often, these voices are confined to textbooks and silent exams. However, Dare to Debate is breaking that silence.
This transformative initiative is giving secondary school students a stage to test ideas, confront issues that shape their world, and discover the power of persuasion as a tool for change.
Set to hold on December 13 2025, this premier Lagos-based debate event has earned the approval of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, solidifying its place as one of the country’s most credible platforms for youth engagement.
The initiative, spearheaded by visionary project director Davies Ikpoyi and his team of thinkers, is a brainchild of the broader Think. Speak. Lead. (TSL) experience—a programme that has already impacted over 3,000 students across Nigeria by honing their public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership abilities.
“Dare to Debate is a classroom for courageous thinking and speaking,” Ikpoyi said, reflecting on how the platform helps young Nigerians think deeply, argue persuasively, and lead confidently.
The event’s structure brings together teams from different secondary schools in Lagos to argue contemporary issues in a lively, structured format. Each round, preliminary, semi-final, and final pushes participants to apply logic, research, and rhetoric in defence of their ideas.
The one-day event promises to be as intellectually stimulating as it is entertaining. Beginning with a grand opening ceremony and an overview of the Dare2Debate mission, participants will navigate multiple debate rounds punctuated by engaging sessions such as Think. Speak. Lead.—a dynamic talk designed to challenge both debaters and the audience to think beyond the ordinary. Between debates, there will be spoken-word performances, music interludes, and quizzes to keep the energy high.
Beyond the trophies and certificates, the true victory lies in what the participants gain: self-confidence, eloquence, and a lifelong appreciation for knowledge and dialogue. For students like Aisha Muhammed of Command Day Senior Secondary School, the experience was transformative: “TSL helped me overcome my fear of public speaking. Now, I can confidently express my thoughts in front of my classmates and beyond.”
Teachers and observers echo similar sentiments. “The training was an eye-opener,” said Daniel Obahon, another participant. “I never realized how important structured arguments and critical thinking are until now.” Such testimonies highlight the initiative’s growing reputation for bridging a crucial gap in Nigeria’s educational ecosystem, one where creativity and expression often take a back seat to rote learning.
The challenge, Ikpoyi notes, has always been the lack of platforms for students to develop critical thinking and civic awareness. Many young Nigerians, he observes, are disconnected from public discourse, often disinterested in current affairs or national issues. Dare to Debate seeks to change that by promoting civic engagement, responsible citizenship, and a culture of informed dialogue.
For sponsors, the project offers more than visibility; it offers a partnership in shaping the future. Supporting Dare to Debate means investing in education, innovation, and leadership—values that resonate deeply in today’s Nigeria. Sponsors also gain access to a diverse, educated audience and the goodwill of being associated with an initiative that is both impactful and forward-looking.
Past collaborations have already yielded remarkable social dividends: schools integrating debate clubs into their extracurricular activities, communities rallying around youth-led discussions, and sponsors witnessing tangible improvements in communication culture among students.
As Nigeria’s educational landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like Dare to Debate shows that with every argument made and every idea defended, the stage becomes more than a battleground of words—it becomes a platform where young minds learn to shape the nation’s destiny.
On December 13 2025, as Lagos hosts some of the country’s brightest young voices, one truth will echo louder than applause: when youth are given the chance to speak, they dare to lead.
