By Becky Usman
Ago Iwoye, Ogun State – Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) has emerged as the winner of the prestigious Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike National Law Debate Competition in 2023. The competition, which witnessed fierce competition among undergraduate law students from over 20 law faculties across Nigeria, consisted of four stages. OOU’s outstanding performance earned them the coveted title, along with a range of rewards including a combined cash prize of N350,000, award plaques, certificates of excellence, and law books.
The national debate, open to law students from accredited law faculties in Nigeria, aims to promote excellence in legal education, research, critical thinking, and advocacy among aspiring lawyers. The competition’s themes, topics, arguments, and outcomes provide a platform for intellectual reasoning, advocacy, and activism, allowing young minds to shed light on national issues and propose insightful solutions.
In the final round, OOU’s Team Diamond clashed with the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus’ (UNEC) Team Beryl. Wuraola Okuneye and Runsewe Oluwakemi, representing OOU, emerged as the winners, while Ugochukwu Precious Nmesonma and Eze Nwakaego Ogochukwu, representing UNEC, secured the 1st runner-up position. Ogochukwu from UNEC was recognized as the Best Speaker of the competition.
The first part of the award presentation took place in the boardroom of OOU’s Law Faculty. The event was attended by distinguished guests, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Agboola Ayodeji, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Gbade Akinrimade, faculty members, administrative staff, the awardees, their teams, and select students. Ruth Soronnadi, the Foundation’s Associate Head of Legal and Research, was also present.
The second part of the award presentation was held at UNEC and attended by the Dean, Prof. Ifeoma Enemo, the Sub Dean, Dr. Helen Agu, the Faculty Officer, the student awardees, and their team members.
Expressing their gratitude, the Vice Chancellor of OOU, the Faculty Deans, lecturers, and the student awardees commended the foundation for its support of legal education and excellent legal research.
Soronnadi expressed her appreciation to all the partners who contributed to the success of the debate competition, with special recognition given to Wola Joseph, a sponsoring lawyer, for providing the cash prize for the 1st runner-up.
The co-chairs of the foundation, Dr. Cynthia Chisom Umezulike and Dr. Victor Azubike Umezulike, reaffirmed their commitment to advancing excellent legal education and research. They emphasized that their late father, Justice Innocent Azubuike Umezulike, a distinguished Professor of Land and Property Law and the longest-serving Chief Justice in the South East, was renowned for these endeavors throughout his lifetime and left behind a remarkable legacy.