IAUE Emerges Rivers State Winner of National Campus Debate 2025

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has emerged as the state winner of the National Campus Debate 2025, securing its place as Rivers State’s representative at the zonal stage of the prestigious competition.

The announcement underscores the university’s commitment to intellectual excellence, civic engagement, and nation-building through vibrant academic discourse. The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, congratulated IAUE for the achievement and wished the institution greater success as it advances to the next round.

The zonal face-to-face debate is scheduled to hold from September 15 to 22, 2025, with IAUE carrying the state’s hopes for victory. The debate focuses on the theme “Unity in Diversity: Designing National Identity in Nigeria’s Multicultural Society”, a subject carefully chosen to promote dialogue, strengthen youth participation, and foster national values among Nigerian students.

The stakes are high at the national level, with ₦50 million reserved for the overall winner, ₦30 million for the second-place finisher, and ₦20 million for the third-place team.

At IAUE, the winning team’s preparation was guided by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako, who also serves as the Coordinator of the IAUE Debate Council, alongside Professor Samuel Amaele, Director of Ideas, Creativity, and Innovation. Their leadership and mentorship were pivotal to the team’s outstanding performance.

Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, Public Relations Officer of IAUE, hailed the victory as a milestone that further positions the university as a hub for academic excellence and innovation in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.