Nine universities in Anambra State would be competing for N1 million grand prize money at this year’s South East Campus Debate (Anambra State Edition) being sponsored by Chief Ikenna Okafor, a billionaire businessman.

Okafor, at a press briefing in Awka, the state capital, said that the debate was, among other reasons, targeted at motivating young Nigerian students to take part in discussing critical issues affecting the country.

“In tandem with my dream that our students/leaders of tomorrow should spare a good portion of their time discussing matters that affect our future and become champions and drivers of it, we decided to engage the intellect of our students in this direction”, he said.

Okafor, who disclosed that he was a debater when he was in school, said that he still recalls his experiences with nostalgia.

“I recall with nostalgia that I was one of the best debaters in my time, having won laurels for my alma mater at quiz and debate competitions. We need to see the tradition continued and improved upon,” he said.

The business mogul said that the debate would be sponsored through some of his companies, namely: Keves Global Leasing Limited, Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited, makers of Afrirootz Foods and Idi Ezeani Nzekwuabuo Foundation set up to immortalize his late father, Chief Paulinus Okafor (Nzekwuabuo).

“Through this foundation, we have demonstrated in unmistakable terms the ideology of being our brother’s keeper by sponsoring pupils and students from primary, secondary and university; support for persons living with sickle cell, support for blind students, and support of widows.”

Okafor listed the universities accredited for the debate to include: Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam; Paul University, Awka, and Madonna University, Okija.

Others are: Tansian University, Umunya; Peter University, Achina-Onneh; University on the Niger, Umunya; Shanahan University, Onitsha; and Legacy University, Okija.

“There are a myriad of topics to be discussed, preliminaries of the debate will be held on the 17 and 18 October 2026 while the grand finale will be on 31 October 2026.

“The rewards of the debate are eternal – building your intellect and sharpening persuasive skills but there are still monetary rewards up to ₦1,000,000 for the champions.

“This is just a starting point, we shall grow this dream. I thank the management of MacClem Marketing for bringing this idea to me,” he concluded. (The Sun)