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By Stephen Adeleye.
A Kogi based NGO, the Confluence Intellectual Convergence Initiative (CICI), says it has concluded plans to organise Inter-School Debate for Secondary Schools in Lokoja, to mark the Nigeria Independence Day celebration on Oct. 1, at Federal University Lokoja.
Miss Dara Falade, the CICI Founder and President, disclosed this in a press statement made available to journalists on Friday in Lokoja, the Confluence city.
According to her, the competition is to create a strategically driven platform through which intellectual properties converge to design innovative solutions for the state.
She said that the debate has seven topics which have been narrowed down to key issues as theyย affect Kogi state, such as security, economy, poverty & unemployment, education, water & rail transportation, flood and the revival of Ajaokuta Iron & Steel Company.
“Eight public and private secondary schools have been carefully selected across Lokoja metropolis to participate in the debate, which will be divided into three stages: First leg, Semi-final and Final stage.
“Every participating school is to be represented by three students from SSI and SS2 only, among which one of the debaters will be the lead while the other two will support.
“Each team is to prepare for three topics as the three stages of the debate will hold same day. Teams will have thirteen minutes each to debate their topics.
“The judging criteria include the number of points raised and their relevance in context, the ability of the debater to logically prove his/her points, and the oratory ability of the debater (eloquence, grammar, clarity and audibility).
“Others are neatness, composure, and adherence to time.
“The Judges are non-aligned members of the society who have been trained on critical evaluation. It is the first of its kind,” Falade said.
She, therefore, called on stakeholders, groups, parents, individuals and private organisations to come and support the initiative to foster discussion on development among young minds in the state.
She said: “the vision of CICI is aimed at birthing a Kogi of our dreams where her human and natural resources are refined into priced products and the standard of living of her people improved.
“We are a youths-led team of stellar individuals from various walks of life who seek to build the potentials of Kogi state into a global product.
“Our team believes in the deliberate activation of human capacity in a conducive environment using native resources geared towards all round development of the populace.
Falade further highlighted the key activities of CICI as: Spelling Bee for Primary Schools; Quiz for Junior Secondary Schools; and Debate for Senior Secondary Schools.
Others are Innovation Challenges for Tertiary Institutions; Literacy Awareness Projects for Out-of- School-Children; and the Confluence Society for Children, Students and Stakeholders.
“These platforms are to create an avenue for robust conversations as well as mentorship in self-leadership and community participation,” Falade said.
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