Students’ Union Holds Freshmen Inter-Faculty Debate

The Great Ife Students’ Union on Tuesday, October 24 held its planned inter-faculty debate for freshmen. The debate is a part of the events that have been prepared for the Fresher’s week 2023. The event held at 1000 seaters lecture theatre. The topic for the debate was ‘Accessible Education vs. Quality Education; Striking the Right Balance between Affordability and Quality’.

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The panel of judges for the debate were Nafisat Ogunsesan – Vice President, University of Ibadan Students’ Union as the Chief Judge, Ajake Israel (OAU Debate Coach) and Ogunba Ademiposi (Chairperson Ife Law Debating Society and SRC Honourable).

A faculty roll call took place after the opening prayer to make sure every faculty was duly represented for the debate.  Ogundele Deborah representing Faculty of Dentistry, Ajokolo Deborah representing Faculty of Science, Abire Esther representing Faculty of Pharmacy, Josad John-Mary representing of Basic Medical Sciences, Giwa Adedoyin representing Faculty of Agriculture, Joy Akande Faculty of Social Sciences, Adeoye Phoebe representing Faculty of Administration, Flourish Eniogo representing Faculty of Law, Adebayo Opeyemi representing Faculty of Arts, Ebenezer Oluwatimilehin representing Faculty of Environmental Design And Management, Tolulope Gold representing Faculty of Technology, Amos Faith representing Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Odusina Tobiloba representing the Faculty of Education.

The director of Sports Great Ife Students’ Union, Sumbade Jnr, gave the introductory speech. He introduced the members of the Central Executives Council(CEC) of the Students’ Union, most of which were absent.

Also, the chief judge was not present at the beginning of the event, while the other judges Ajake Isreal and Ogunba Ademiposi who were present were introduced. The time keeper of the debate, Adebanjo Oluwademilade was also intoduced to the audience.

The host engaged the audience by getting their opinions on the topic after which Olufunsho Ayomilade read the citation of the judges. Consequently, the modalities of the debate was given by Ajake Israel, which are the content, dressing, time management, grammar, pronunciation, creativity.

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The time keeper explained that the timing for the first round is 5 minutes, while the rebuttal is 1minute 30 seconds.The chief judge was finally introduced upon her arrival.

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Ogundele Deborah, the representative from the Faculty of Dentistry was the first speaker followed by Ajokolo Deborah from the Faculty of Science then Abire Esther from the Faculty of Pharmacy after which Josad John-Mary from Basic Medical Sciences spoke. Giwa Adedoyin from the Faculty of Agriculture was the fifth speaker followed by Joy Akande from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Adeoye Phoebe from Faculty of Administration. The eighth speaker was Flourish Eniogo from the Faculty of Law. Ebenezer Oluwatimilehin from the Faculty of EDM was the ninth speaker and the first male speaker. followed by Tolulope Gold from the Faculty of Technology and Amos Faith from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences. Odusina Tobiloba from the Faculty of Education was the twelfth speaker and Adebayo Opeyemi Rachael from the Faculty of Arts was the final speaker.

The rebuttal round started after the announcement and giveaway by Fasoro Damilare, the financial secretary of the Union.

For the Second Round, only 6 faculties qualified. The qualified faculties are Pharmacy, Administration, Sciences, Law, Basic Medical Sciences and Agriculture. Each participant was asked to pick from a list of numbers, 2 minutes to think, 3 mins for impromptu speech.

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The Faculty of Administration contestant topic was ‘Should exam malpractice attract criminal punishment or sanction’. For Law, it was ‘The current sexual harassment position in the society is disadvantages towards men’. The topic for Basic Medical Sciences ‘Cultism is borne out of social decadence rather than systemic failure’. Faculty of Agriculture topic was ‘Rustication, 7years imprisonment or community service,  which is favorable to deter cultism’? while Faculty of Pharmacy, spoke on ‘Examination malpractice is more of a response to the school decay system as opposed to the students indiscipline’. Faculty of Sciences, spoke on ‘Sexual harassment cases should not be subjected to out of court settlement’.

The host came on the podium after the six contestants had spoken. She explained that just the first three winners will be announced before the end of the programme and the overall winner will be announced during the symposium on Wednesday.

The Vice- President of the Great Ife Students’ Union, Adekoya Omoyosola made a brief remark appreciating the judges, contestants and the spectators. The three final winners in no specific order were from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Pharmacy

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Speaking to ACJOAU Correspondents in an interview, the Chief Judge of the debate competition, Nafisat Ogunsesan, answered few questions on her opinion about the debate. 

You Made Some Comments About The Poor Performances Of The Students During The Unterlude. What Can Be Done To Make Future Debates Better?

I am not aware of the number of days the participants were given to prepare. Giving them enough days to prepare would have helped. It is the responsibility of each faculty to have heard the speeches of its speakers then point out the errors,” she said.

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She further stated that, the speakers did not really carry out researches on the topic and as a result they had little or no knowledge of the parts they are opposing thereby making their arguments incomplete. “When debating, you don’t research only on your side. I see that they only researched on their side. So, there was no complete and solid argument.”

What Is Your View About The Debate As A Whole?

‘In as much as it was a nice topic, I think it was a little bit complicated. It seemed like they were arguing about poor education and the fact that one cannot afford education.’

She further stated that, ‘The contestants were not trained in public speaking. There was a whole of flaws ranging from how the speakers moved around, lacked proper dressing, not showing enthusiasm. Most of them were debating like people who don’t have the passion. Most of them were only concerned about the time being over as soon as possible. All of these has to be addressed to have an excellent debate.”

The debate in all was an avenue for the contestants to speak on their opinions about the topic, and also try to probe their views right.

The final results are to be announced during the symposium on Wednesday at Oduduwa Hall.