Gombe Polytechnic shines at NOA North-east zonal debate competition

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By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel

The Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga has shined as the North-East Zonal winners of a debate competition organized by National Orientation Agency (NOA) for tertiary institutions in the zone to win N5million and will later head to Abuja lock horns at the National level.

Held Monday at ASUP Secretariat Federal Polytechnic Bauchi on the topic, “striking a balance between government policies and citizens responsibilities in Nation building”, the programme coordinator Tolu Meduna said the debate is geared toward creating awareness on the core values of citizenship.

She stressed that the programme is aimed at raising awareness and consciousness about things that must be done to make Nigerians develop and imbibe the culture of positivity in all ramifications.

The keenly contested debate which revolved around values of good citizenship, the Panel of Judges declared the pair of Hassana Musa Abubakar and Boyi Lydia Kanku as winner with a total point of 466 while the pair of Yunusa Abdullahi Barde and Jajere scored a total of 445 points to emerge runners up.

For emerging winners, the pair of Hassana Musa Abubakar and Boyi Lydia Kanku won the prize money of N5m while the pair of Yunusa Abdullahi Barde and Jajere won N2m.

In a reaction, the winning pair described the victory as a result of hardwork done through deep research and a lot of readings to be able to put a few points together for the competition in spite of the short time couple with the fact that they are currently writing examinations.

The pair assured that having won the ticket to represent the North-East zone at the National Finals, they will go back to do more research and readings in order to understand the topic better considering the competition will be tougher at that level.

On her part the Bauchi state Director of the agency Mrs Theresa Omaga said the main focus of NOA on the 7-for-7 National Values Charter Campus Debate is to reflect its dual level, from the Government and the citizens which will fashion out a better Nigeria and Nigerians.