UNIABUJA Student Adeyemi Sky Wins Amnesty International Debate Competition

Mr. Adeyemi Sky, a 300-level Law student at the University of Abuja, has emerged victorious in the Amnesty International and French Embassy Debate competition held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The debate, organized to commemorate the 2024 International Law Day, aimed to advocate for the right to education for all.

Speaking during the event, Ms. Barbara Magaji, Programme Manager at Amnesty International, emphasized the importance of education as a fundamental human right that should be accessible to every child, regardless of their economic background or geographical location. “As an organization committed to promoting human rights, we believe that the debate would improve legal knowledge and raise awareness on human rights,” she stated.

Ketty Ris, Cooperation Attaché at the French Embassy, highlighted the grim reality of over 18.5 million children out of school in Nigeria, advocating for education as a right, not a privilege. “Through this debate, we aim to encourage critical thinking and advocacy skills in tomorrow’s young leaders,” she added.

Dr. Nasir Muktar, Director of Clinical Legal Education at the University of Abuja, pointed out that the right to education is embedded in the constitution and should be actively enforced. He called for a localized education system to better serve Nigeria’s diverse cultural landscape.

In his victory speech, Mr. Sky urged the government to increase budgetary allocations for education, citing UNESCO’s recommendation of 15 to 20 percent funding for the sector. “Failure to comply with this is leading to a significant number of children being denied education,” he warned.

Mr. Shigusa Dankudara, who won the Secondary School segment of the debate, praised the initiative and called for its continuation to enhance learning opportunities.