Dr Ikenna Okafor, a philanthropist and businessman, says the South-East Campus Debate, Anambra edition, will sharpen youths’ critical thinking, persuasive skills and intellectual capacity to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Okafor said this at a news conference in Awka on Saturday ahead of the competition scheduled for Oct. 17.
He said the initiative would encourage university students to engage in meaningful discussions on issues affecting their future and revive the culture of intellectual debates in tertiary institutions.
“In tandem with my dream that our students, the leaders of tomorrow, should spare a good portion of their time discussing matters that affect our future, we decided to engage their intellect in this direction.
“It is good to love arts and entertainment, but we need to feed the minds of our youths with intellectual discussions to help them determine their future,” he said.
Okafor said all accredited universities in Anambra had been invited to participate in the competition.
The preliminary rounds would hold on Oct. 17 and 18, while the grand finale was scheduled for Oct. 31.
He said the competition would feature various topics, with monetary prizes of up to N1 million for the champions.
The sponsor said the initiative was funded through his companies, Keves Global Leasing Ltd. and Ideal Agro Allied Produce Ltd., makers of Afrirootz Foods, alongside the Idi Ezeani Nzekwuabuo Foundation.
He said the foundation was established in honour of his late father, Chief Paulinus Okafor, to support pupils, students, persons living with sickle cell disease, blind students and widows.
According to him, the foundation also intervenes in schools in Akwaeze and other communities where necessary in the state.
Okafor expressed appreciation to Mac Clem Marketing for introducing the idea, describing the competition as the beginning of a project expected to expand in subsequent editions.
Also speaking, Dr Esther Okafor, wife of the sponsor, urged university students to participate actively in the competition.
“This is a programme that will help build right-thinking, solution-oriented youths with a can-do spirit to drive the desired change in society,” she said.
