Over 170 students and stakeholders gathered in Abuja for an Inclusive Inter-School Debate Competition aimed at fostering critical thinking and empowering young voices in Nigeria’s drive toward sustainable development.
Organised by the C-Circle Foundation for Sustainable Health and Environment in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Abuja (The Grandfather), Rotary Club of Wuse II, and Generation Unlimited (GenU), powered by UNICEF, the event featured 16 Senior Secondary Schools, including Special Needs Schools. Set in a tranquil, eco-conscious environment, the competition provided a unique platform for youth engagement on pressing environmental and social issues.
The debate’s first round explored the motion: “Recycling single-use plastics is better than banning them,” prompting students to analyze practical solutions to plastic pollution. In the finals, top contenders tackled the motion: “Is waste management the responsibility of government or the citizen?” His Excellency International School, Bwari, emerged winner, with School for the Gifted, Gwagwalada, and FunTaj International School taking second and third places, respectively. Government Secondary School, Kubwa, came fourth.
A separate segment featured Special Needs Schools debating: “Is our society built to eliminate barriers to social inclusion for people with special needs?” This inclusive session fostered empathy and understanding among all participants, reinforcing the event’s broader aim of equity and social justice.
Founder of C-Circle Foundation, Dr. Chimere May Ohajinwa, described the debate as more than a competition. “It’s a journey to discover voices, ignite critical thinking, and build young leaders who will shape a better tomorrow,” she said. Ohajinwa emphasised that informed young people become catalysts for grassroots awareness and action, extending environmental knowledge from schools into homes and communities.
Attendees included Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change; Mr. Lawrence Okechukwu from the Federal Ministry of Environment; Dr. George Igbokwe of the FCT Secondary School Board; and UNICEF’s Anita Enyekwe, among others.
Students also explored the lush, biodiverse surroundings designed as a “healing environment,” reconnecting with nature and experiencing the kind of ecosystem they are being prepared to protect.
As Nigeria navigates its environmental future, initiatives like this debate serve as reminders that sustainable development depends not only on policies but on cultivating knowledgeable, engaged young citizens ready to lead change.
Click here to read related stories
