It was a day of intellectual fireworks in Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. The event was the debate organised by Nigeria Model United Nations Society (NIGMUNS), with the topic ‘Globalisation: The Crux of World Violence’, recently held at the Main Hall, Conference Centre, of the university.

Chairman of the occasion, Professor Eyiwumi Falae, in his welcome address, advised Nigerians to give thanks to God for the peace being experienced in much of the country as it has not been the same in other part of the world.

Professor Falaye, however, stressed the need for all parts of the country to embrace peace, saying: “All problems are surmountable, but we have to live and make room for peace, even as the Bible itself clearly puts it. When there is a conflict, it is imperative for us to sit down, deliberate and come up with constructive resolution options, because there is great gain in peaceful co-existence.”

Chief (Dr.) Abayomi Finnih, while speaking on his conferment as Grand Patron of NIGMUNS, said it is a thing of pride to have been honoured with such a title, especially from his alma mater. “I will continue to play my role to support the development of this organisation and continue to give back to the society in any form,” he stated.

Commenting on the topic of the discourse, Dr. Finnih opined that the task ahead of Nigeria is enormous and “if we look at the general trend in the world, we have no choice but to be involved in globalisation as it has its merit and demerits, but we should use the best side of it for the growth of humanity and global relationship. As it is, guardians should learn to operate parental guide. We must teach them what and what not to do because the country should feel the impact we are playing.”

In his remarks, NIGMUNS President, Ambassador Olatade Opeyemi, welcomed participants from various organisations on campus and other participants to the event. He said the intellectual discourse was aimed at making youth organisations see one another as partners in development, and to contribute their quota in sensitising the general public on the issue of insecurity in this part of the world. He added: “We must equally understand that we are out to elicit greatness in every individual and ourselves.”

Representatives of each of the seven organizations that participated in the debate spoke for and against the fact that globalisation, since its inception, has been creating monumental ripple effects to the peace of the world at large.

Tijani Mayowa, who represented the Union Campus Journalists (UCJ), said: “Globalisation brings conflict, and conflict brings violence. Those who brought it get the money and we get the violence and pain. Poverty is the worst form of violence. It is beautiful on the outside, but inwardly it breeds a penny of filth.” He added that globalisation is oppressive and exploitative and it tends to make the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

On his part, the representative of the Students for Liberty (SFL), Babasola Obayemi, however, argued that globalisation, as a global concept, is not causing violence, but people in the world. In all, most of the participants held tight o the position that globalisation is the crux of violence, as it has produced an endangered planet and contributed immensely to terrorism and cyber-crimes, amongst other grave ills we are bedeviling the society today.

The debate was won by UCJ while INSIGHT took the second position.

•Photo shows Professor Janice Olawoye, Professor Eyiwumi Falae; Grand Patron, NIGMUNS, Chief (Dr) Yomi Finnih, Professor Stephen Akpavie; President NIGMUS, Ambassador Olatade, and other executive members of the organisation, after the event in the Main Hall, Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, recently.

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