Four Finalists Emerge For Pat Utomi Prize For Student Debate

In marking the 60th birthday celebration of renowned economist and public commentator Prof. Patrick Utomi, Youngstars Foundation in partnership with Center for Values in Leadership (CVL) is organizing an undergraduate debate challenge in honour of him. From over 330 video entries received from undergraduates across tertiary institutions in Nigeria, 16 undergraduates were selected through a rigorous and transparent screening process to participate in the preliminary stage. The preliminary stage which held on Friday 22nd January 2016 at Youngstars Foundation Youth Resource Park, saw the 16 debaters divided into 4 groups of 4 persons each to debate head to head against each other in a direct knock out process.




Before commencing the debates, Prof Pat Utomi spoke to the debaters via a telephone conference, commending them for their efforts and stating that they were all winners. Afterwards the debate commenced in earnest with the undergraduates going head to head in the first stage. Only 8 winners proceeIbadan
the next stage, where again they debated head to head in a keenly contested, fierce and robust challenge of each other’s points and argument. At the end of the second stage, the 4 debaters with the overall highest scores from the 3 judges have emerged and shall proceed to the grand finale which will hold on 6th February 2016 in Lagos during the 60th birthday celebration of Prof Pat Utomi.

The 4 finalists comprise 3 females and 1 male as listed below

Abigail Nwangu – Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
Elizabeth Nwarueze – University of Ibadan
Olaniyan Oluwadara – University of Ibadan
Temiwumi Akimuleya – University of Ibadan

The four debaters are contending for the following education support prizes made possible through the gracious donation of Prof Pat Utomi

1st Prize – N750,000. 2nd Prize – N500,000. 3rd Prize – N250,000.

Pat Utomi Prize for Students Debate on Public Policy is an initiative of Youngstars Foundation in partnership with CVL, founded by Prof Pat Utomi.