Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in Oyo State has emerged champion at this year’s National Campus Debate and capacity building conference for tertiary institutions.

Its team went home with a princely prize of N20 million.

The grand finale of the debates, with the theme: “Criticising and dissenting peacefully while maintaining love for one’s country”, organised by the National Orientation Agency, in partnership with Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), was held yesterday at Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The winning team, which comprised Adekunle Ayomide and Oladeji Oluwashina, represented the Southwest geopolitical zone. Other winners were Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (second position), University of Ilorin (third), Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Obukuru, Port Harcourt (fourth), Gombe State Polytechnic (fifth position) and Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu (sixth).

The NOA Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu said the theme was apt and timely as it came at a time the country is facing some challenges and that understanding the national issues was very important.

He said the initiative, tagged: “7 for 7”, reflected the NOA’s commitment “to instilling and celebrating our collective national values, particularly among our greatest resource, our youths”.

Issa-Onilu said: “In an era where our nation faces great challenges, from governance to societal well-being, the power of healthy dialogue and peaceful peace talks cannot be overstated. Constructive criticism is not revengeable. It is a cornerstone of democracy and a vital tool for nation-building.

“However, criticism must always be grounded in love for one’s country, with the intention of building, not tearing down. Let me remind you all that that criticism is not silence. Loving your country does not mean turning a blind eye to shortcomings. It means recognising those shortcomings, speaking out against them constructively and working together to find solutions.

“As students, you are the voice of today, and the hope of tomorrow. Your ability to express dissent peacefully, while upholding the unity and progress of Nigeria, will define the kind of leaders you will become, and the legacy you leave behind.’’