By Osaro Matthew, Adeyinka Taiwo, and Ikegima Elizabeth

The Clash of Socials debate, organized by the Office of the Deputy Governor, SOSSA, in partnership with the Ehiwele Daniel Initiative and UNIBEN Debate Society, concluded with Political Science emerging as the winners. The grand finale took place on July 14, 2023, at LT2, Social Science Faculty, following intense rounds that saw Political Science and Social Works reach the finals. The event showcased the talents and capabilities of the participating students and fostered a competitive and intellectually stimulating environment.

Distinguished guests, including faculty members and student leaders, graced the event, which began with an opening speech by the Deputy Governor of SOSSA. The debate followed a British Parliamentary style, with teams given 15 minutes to prepare arguments on the motion concerning anti-social behaviors in Nigerian universities. The 30-minute debate captivated the audience, and judges from the UNIBEN Debate Society determined Political Science as the winners.

The awards ceremony honoured the Department of Economics as the first runner-up, Social Works as the runner-up, and awarded Political Science as the winners. In an interview, Chinaza Leonard, the lead speaker of the winning team, expressed his elation and attributed their success to hard work and preparation. Wisdom Destiny, the best male speaker of the proposing team, highlighted the challenges they faced but emphasized their dedication and ultimate victory.

Jed Eromosele, the Director of Competitions for UNIBEN Debate Society and a member of the organizing committee, discussed the purpose of the Clash of Socials debate and the challenges encountered during its organization. He stressed the importance of intellectualism among the departments of Social Science and the need to expand beyond physical competitions. Eromosele highlighted the difficulty in securing sponsors but encouraged continuous debate practice.

ACJ UNIBEN also interviewed members of the opposing team, including Success Osaruonamen and Ohemu Stephanie, both 100 Level students. Success expressed her pride in being the best female speaker and shared her positive experience participating in her first British parliamentary-style debate. She aspires to become a global public speaker and debater in the future. Stephanie acknowledged the value of the debate in gaining experience and overcoming her initial fears as a lower-level student.

The first edition of the Clash of Socials debate successfully brought together departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences, promoting healthy competition and knowledge exchange among students. The event highlighted the significance of debate as an intellectual activity and showcased the potential of young debaters.

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