Day One of the Round of 16 stage of the ‘I Beg To Differ’ debate tournament on Nigeria Info saw contestants compete for a chance to progress to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
In the first debate, 15-year-old Akilo Charles of C.M.S Grammer School and 15-year-old Ayomide Ogunneye of Ikorodu Senior High School debated the topic, 'The Petrol Subsidy Removal, Although Painful, is Great for Nigeria’s Economy.'
In his argument, Akilo Charles, who opposed the motion, stated that subsidy removal had led to untold hardship for Nigerians.
He added that the federal government has since failed to provide safety nets for citizens to mitigate the hardship of subsidy removal.
His opponent, Ayomide Ogunneye, pointed out that funds used to subsidise petrol can be better used in other sectors of the country.
In his view, subsidy removal had improved "market efficiency through accurate pricing and global competition."
After consideration by the judges, Akilo Charles was declared the winner of the first debate session and the first quarterfinalist of the tournament.
In the second debate, 16-year-old Bethel Emmanuel of Ikorodu Senior High School and 15-year-old Uzonwanne Otito Emmanuel of New Hall International School, faced off on the topic, 'The Judiciary is Responsible for Nigeria’s Failing Democracy.'
Bethel, who supported the motion, emerged as the winner of the day’s second debate and progressed to the quarterfinal round of the tournament.
