Young Leaders as the Vision for Enugu and Nigeria

By Chiekezie Emmanuel

ESUT Emerges Winner of 042 Debate Competition

The debate, tagged “Debate Cool_it,” was designed to nurture critical thinking, creativity, and leadership among young people, Governor Peter Mbah stated.

Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) emerged as the grand winner of the competition, receiving N15 million, while N5 million was awarded to the runner-up, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

According to His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, on his social media handle, his administration is committed to building a culture of innovation, and this tournament is only the beginning.

He further stated, “We aim to extend this spirit of intellectual challenge and growth from universities down to our Smart Green Schools, helping to build resilient, globally competitive youth in our state.”

His Excellency congratulated all the participants for their remarkable dedication, hoping they carry forward the lessons learned from this exercise and serve as exemplary models for others. “We will continue investing in these young leaders who are the foundation of the society we envision for Enugu and Nigeria,” he added.

The students addressed pressing issues such as climate change, governance, human rights, gender inequality, feminism, abortion, cybercrime, cybersecurity, and more. They learned to engage in respectful, constructive dialogue on complex societal topics. The participants set a high standard, and their performances reaffirmed my belief in Enugu’s bright future,” he said.