FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ADEKUNLE FAJUYI HALL EMERGE WINNERS AT GISU TUG OF WORDS GRAND FINALE

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ADEKUNLE FAJUYI HALL EMERGE WINNERS AT GISU TUG OF WORDS GRAND FINALE

By Johnson Pamilerin 

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Adekunle Fajuyi Hall of Residence emerged champions in the faculty and hall categories, respectively, at the grand finale of the Great Ife Students' Union Tug of Words debate competition held at Obafemi Awolowo University.

The competition, organised by the office of the Secretary General of the Great Ife Students' Union in collaboration with the OAU Literary and Debating Society, featured finalists from four halls of residence; Awolowo, Adekunle Fajuyi, Angola and Akintola and four faculties: Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences and Social Sciences.

The event began with opening remarks by the Union's Secretary General, Habeeb Oke, who welcomed attendees, congratulated the finalists for reaching the grand finale and commended their commitment to intellectual engagement.

Proceedings opened with the Masters' Round, where experienced debaters demonstrated the British Parliamentary debate format before the competitive rounds commenced.

The hall category debated the motion: "This House believes that universities and institutions of higher learning should always remain politically neutral, even during politically pernicious periods."

Adekunle Fajuyi Hall and Akintola Hall proposed the motion, arguing that universities, as centres of learning and diverse ideas, should maintain political neutrality. According to the proposition, "Neutrality is the best coin they can toss."

Opposing the motion were Awolowo Hall and Angola Hall, who contended that education and politics are inseparable. They argued that institutions have a responsibility to defend democracy and challenge injustice, insisting that true neutrality is impossible in the face of political oppression.

In the faculty category, participants debated the motion: "This House believes that the Students' Union should actively push for the reinstatement of the former transport system rather than revamping the current one."

The Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences supported the motion, arguing that reforms without clear timelines are ineffective. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, one speaker stated, "A reform that has no time frame is useless," while stressing the importance of transportation to students' academic lives.

Opposing the motion were the Faculties of Arts and Agriculture, who defended the current transport system, arguing that the introduction of the new CNG buses has improved security and was intended to enhance students' welfare. They rejected claims that the new buses were introduced as a political strategy ahead of the Students' Union elections.

At the end of the competition, Boye Consult Construction was recognised with an award for sponsoring the programme, while certificates were presented to participants and volunteers.

Popoopla Dolabomi of Adekunle Fajuyi Hall was named Best Speaker in the hall category, recording a total score of 374 points, an average score of 74.80 and a standard deviation of 1.60.

In the faculty category, Giwa Asia emerged Best Speaker with a total score of 380 points, an average score of 76 and a standard deviation of 1.40.

Adekunle Fajuyi Hall of Residence claimed first place in the hall category, followed by Akintola Hall, Awolowo Hall and Angola Hall.

In the faculty category, the Faculty of Social Sciences emerged champions, while the Faculty of Agriculture placed second, the Faculty of Arts finished third and the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences came fourth.