Winners have emerged from the speak-a-thon contest organised for the undergraduate students of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the University of Ibadan (UI) and other selected universities in the country.
The contest, which was the maiden edition of the speak-a-thon, held at the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan campus on Thursday, was themed ‘The Rhetoric Rumble’ and was convened by Adegoke Umar, a final year student of the Department of Environment Health Sciences, UI and the Founder/ President of the Environmental Health Students’ literary and debating society.
Umar, in his opening remarks, noted that his love for public speaking and his desire to inspire change in the department motivated him to conceive the speak-a-thon competition.
“The speak-a-thon is a milestone into our society’s annals, an illumination into our undergraduate programme, and a platform where literary students, from far and near, converge to showcase their talents,” he said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Professor Godson Ana, urged the students to take the contest seriously because the university is a place where people are trained both in character and learning.
He stressed that Nigeria is begging for good leaders and that contests like this help to produce such leaders, adding that it pleased him that different students from different universities have gathered to speak about the earth, the climate, and their challenges.
“Outside this venue, the theme and message of this contest will resonate in our lives, schools, and society in a way that will impact policies,” Professor Ana said.
Dr Olugbenga Oyeku of the Department of Environment Health Sciences, UI, stated that the contest is an avenue to enlighten students about the earth and to inspire them to take actions that will make the earth a better place.
Oyeku added that he was happy that the students’ society was organising the event, which will help produce eloquent public speakers.
The MC of the event, Chineke Ugochukwu, stated that the contest was in two categories, the inter-varsity oratory contest and the inter-level debate contest.
The inter-varsity oratory contest was among five universities, and they spoke on the ‘Earth’s anthem’.
The universities and their representatives were Lead City University, Ibadan (Promise Akinnifesi); University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City (Oluwafunmilayo Oreotan); Fountain University, Osogbo (Munirah Ismail); Kwara State University (Gold Agboju); and the University of Ibadan (Ajenifuja Toluwalase).
The inter-level debate contest was among the students of the Department of Environment Health Sciences, UI.
First- and second-year students (Kabini Quadri and Anointing Oyintiloye) of the department went against fourth-year students (Iberedem Nton and Babatope Anjolaoluwa) and the title of their debate was ‘Should single-use plastics be banned worldwide?’
On the other hand, a third-year student (Ifeoluwa Amoo) went against fifth-year students (Chidinma Marcus and Olanrewaju Olaleru) and the title of their debate was ‘Is nuclear energy a viable solution for reducing carbon emission?’
The judges of the contests were Barnabas Michael (the chief judge) from the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Nafisat Ogunsesan of the Faculty of Law, and Mark Obeya of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences.
At the end of the contests, the best orator went to the University of Ibadan (Ajenifuja Toluwalase), the best debates went to the first- and second-year level and the fifth-year level students; and the overall best speaker went to Ajenifuja Toluwalase.
The judges commended the students for their time and efforts while pointing out their weaknesses and challenges.
The judges urged the students to pay attention to proper dressing and time management, and also learn how to build strong arguments and good delivery that catch the attention of the audience.
Also present at the event were some of the staff and students of the universities in attendance. Some of the staff present were Dr Esther Tella of the Department of Environment Health Sciences, Lead City University; and Mr Francis Oladesi of the Department of Environment Health Sciences at Fountain University.
In his closing remarks, Adegoke Umar stated that he was impressed by the overall performance of the students, given that this was their first public speaking outing.
He was grateful to the department for the financial support he received to organise the speak-a-thon contest, adding that the next edition of the contest will be better and bigger.
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