Ugochukwu Chineke, a final-year Law student, and representative of the Sultan Bello Hall emerged as the winner of the 13th Edition of the Dragons Jaw Inter-Hall Oratory Contest, at Armoury of Words, held yesterday, 8th March 2025, at the Wole Soyinka Lecture Theatre.
Ugochukwu tallied 94 points to emerge in first place, ahead of Akande Omobobola James (Lord Tedder Hall) with 90.75 points, and Olanrewaju Oyedijo (Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall) with 88.75 points, who were second and third respectively.
The contest featured three-minute speeches on the topic, ‘Cosplaying the Nigerian problem’. Other participants in the contest include; Ajadi Mary (Obafemi Awolowo Hall, 74 points) in 8th place, Orekeyi Justice (Great Independence Hall, 77.75 points) in 7th place, Olu-Adegbola Folusho (Alexander Brown Hall, 83 points) in 6th place, Simisola Afolabi (Queen Elizabeth II Hall, 86.75 points) in 5th place, and Yahya Dorcas (Queen Idia Hall, 88.15 points) in 4th place. Representatives of the Ransom Kuti Hall and Kenneth Mellanby Hall, Morakinyo Temidayo, and Uwokhori Courage, were absent.
The event also featured a debate and oratory contest between the two factions of the Sultan Bello Hall Literary and Debating Society; Bullets and Dynamites. The Debate contest was on the topic, “Should the right to a people’s secession be fundamental to democracy?” while the Oratory contest was on the topic, “What if an apocalypse happens?’. Olayiwola Oladapo and Oluwasina Praise from the Dynamite squad emerged as the Best Orator and First Runner-Up Orator respectively. Babatimehin Peace, also of the Dynamites Squad, emerged as the Best Speaker. The Dynamite squad emerged as the winners for the night in both categories.
Armoury of Wards, now in its 14th edition, is one of the University of Ibadan’s top public-speaking competitions and served as a forerunner for Jaw War.