12th National Schools Debating Championship and Essay Competition – First Round Results Announced, 2nd Stage Begins

November 2nd, 2025

The United Organization for Education and Sports Development (UOESD), in partnership with Maurice Akueme Foundation, is proud to announce the first-round results of the 12th edition of the National Schools Debating Championship and Essay Competition (2025/2026).We sincerely thank every school and student who submitted entries for this year’s competition. We received over 75 video and essay entries from schools across Nigeria. The judging panel consisted of five esteemed judges: three from Nigeria, one from Kenya, and one from Ethiopia.

Guidelines and Corrections for Participants

Based on the first-round review, the following guidelines and corrections are highlighted for all participating schools and students:

1. Official Greetings: Always greet the panel of judges formally at the start of the debate.
2. No References in Hand: Use of papers or phones during the debate is strictly prohibited.
3. Avoid Repetition: Team speakers should not repeat points already made.
4. Cultural Attire: Wearing localized/ethnic clothing is encouraged, but all speakers on a team must comply if one chooses to use them.
5. Reliable Sources: Using only one source to define terms is insufficient. Multiple credible sources are required.
6. Respectful Posture: Sitting during a debate is considered disrespectful.
7. Language: Pidgin English is not permitted in professional debates such as ours except for a justifiable context.
8. Team Focus: The competition is judged on team performance, not individuals alone.
9. No Earphones: Earphones or external devices are prohibited during debate.
10. Professional Conduct: Debating is not a newscast or recitation; students must actively engage with arguments.
11. Recognition: Always acknowledge the moderator, judges, and other notable officials present in a resounding manner.
12. Protocol Compliance: Every team member is assessed on Introduction Perfection and overall contribution. Therefore, you may loose marks by using only "all protocols duly observed"
13. Video Quality: Debate videos must conclude properly; incomplete videos will be disqualified.
14. Reading Materials: Reading directly from textbooks, phones, or home notes is not allowed.
15. Debate Location: Debating outdoors in informal settings (e.g., in the bush, sambisa forest) is not allowed.

First Round Shortlisted Finalists

Primary School 

Round 1  Debate Qualifiers:

• Our Lady International Schools, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State
• Community Primary School, Awlaw, Oji River, Enugu State
• Echeobi Primary School, Neni, Anambra State
• Central School, Enuguakwu, Achi, Oji River, Enugu State
• Practicing Primary School, Agulu, Anambra State
• Ojiakor Memorial Primary School, Adazinnukwu, Anambra State

Junior Secondary School:

Unfortunately, no essays qualified for the next stage due to high AI-detection risk, with scores above 68.7%.

Senior Secondary School Round 1  Debate Qualifiers:

• Government Day Secondary School, Abuja, FCT
• Noble Academy School, Ukpanam, Delta State
• Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State
• Federal Government Girls' College, Abaji, Abuja, FCT
• Bubendorf Memorial Grammar School, Adazinnukwu, Anambra State
• Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, Lagos State 
• Government Technical College (GTC), Enugu
• Our Lady International Schools, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State
• Creme Quintessence School, Lokogoma, Abuja, FCT
• Community Support Program Schools, Daura, Katsina State
• Community Secondary School, Okoro -nu-odo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
• Lagos State Senior Model College
• Michael Tansi Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri, Anambra State
• Young Minds Schools, Magboro, Ogun State
• St. Augustine Secondary School, Ichida, Anambra State
• Emmy Norbert International Secondary School, Port Harcourt Rivers State 
• St. Anthony’s Catholic Comprehensive Institute, Agulu, Anambra State

Tertiary Institution:

Round 1 Debate Qualifiers 

•  Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
• Father Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM),formerly Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State 
• Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State 
• Nile University, Abuja, FCT
• University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State(Team Elite)
• Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State 
• Anambra State College of Nursing, Nkpor, Anambra State 
• Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State
• Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State 
• Federal University of Technology, Ondo State (Team FUTA)

Judging Criteria

The following judging metrics were applied and will remain for all subsequent rounds:

• Perfect Introduction
• Appearance
• Demonstration
• Body Language
• Charisma and Boldness
• Expression and Grammar
• Eloquence
• Citation and References
• Argument Strength
• Pitch Control
• Logical Coherence
• Consistency of Argument

For the second round, three best schools from the northern part and three from the southern part in both secondary and tertiary categories will qualify for the finals.

Second Round Debate Topics and Rules

Primary School: Should parents work full-time or spend more time with family?

Secondary School: Is Nigeria’s diversity a curse or a blessing?

Tertiary Institution: Is a common future possible in Nigeria?

Speaking Time:

● First Speaker – 5 minutes

● Second Speaker – 3 minutes

● Third Speaker – 2 minutes

In this round, you are still allowed to support or debate against the topic.

Submission Requirements:

All debate videos from a school/team must be compiled together and saved as a single document before submission.

Please submit your debate videos via WhatsApp to +234 814 565 5819.

When submitting, ensure you include the full names of all debaters, as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards will be presented at this stage based on total marks accumulated.

Award Categories:

🏅 Gold Award: 90–100%

🥈 Silver Award: 80–89%

🥉 Bronze Award: 70–79%

Deadline: February 28, 2026

The overall winners in each category at the final stage of the competition will receive cash prizes, fully funded undergraduate and postgraduate overseas scholarships through our mentorship and international development opportunities.

In addition to the cash awards, all participants who qualify for the final round will automatically be included in the UOESD Global Scholarship and Mentorship Programme.

Best school's incentive awards

Best debating institutions award 

Best speaker's awards

Judges' awards