The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has emerged as the zonal winner of North East universities debate organized by Yiaga Africa titled “My Nigeria – Our Nigeria”.
The four universities comprising UNIMAID, Yobe State University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and Gombe State University that came second participated in the zonal debate held at Maiduguri on Tuesday.
The debate was structured around four thematic areas of citizenship, national values, governance and politics.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Officer, Yiaga Africa, Mr Olaniyan Sanusi, said the nationwide debate was organized by Yiaga Africa with support from Open Society Foundations under a project called Citizens Deliver.
He said that the winners of the debate in North East would meet winners of other zones at a grand finale to be held in Abuja sometime in May.
Sanusi said that the debate was initiated to bring young people from across the country together to debate on their vision on ideal Nigeria and what does Nigeria citizenship means to young people in general.
“Four us is to build citizens’ consciousness, particularly the youths on democratic rights following comments that dominate social media platforms after the 2023 general election..
“For us this is to rekindle hope; we want to see more young people in Nigeria talking about their ideal Nigeria,” Sanusi said.
In his message at the occasion, Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Prof. Aliyu Shugaba, represented by the Dean, Students Affairs, lauded the initiative by Yiaga and tasked participants in the contest to ensure quality representation for the zone.
