Habeeb-Abdul Akorede, a soon-to-be graduate of the Faculty of Law, emerged runner-up at the 2024 Amnesty International Nigeria Inter-Varsity Human Rights Debate, which took place on Thursday, 30th of May, 2024 at Baze University, Abuja.
The debate, which was the final stage in a months-long contest, involved four rounds of impromptu speeches. For each round, 90 seconds were given to prepare, after which a 2-minute argument was made, and then a minute for rebuttals and responses to the audience. Topics spanned across education, civil society, health, law, technology, and the economy.
At the end of the rounds, Gifty Nnaji of Bowen University emerged the winner, with Akorede coming in as runner-up, and Enebechi Obumneme Joel of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, coming in as second runner-up.
Speaking with the Press, Akorede said, “It was a very interesting experience. I had to think very rapidly and substantively on topics that I was not in agreement with in a matter of 90 seconds, then present a compact speech in two minutes. It excited me while at the same time putting some of the lessons I have learnt as a debater over time to the test. I completely enjoyed it.”
Notable dignitaries at the event include Bukky Shonibare, Founder and Executive Director of Invictus Africa, Dr. Bisi Olawuyi of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, and Ebaide Omiunu, a renowned legal practitioner.