Ifeoluwa Olaiya, a 15-year-old student of Wellspring College, has emerged as the winner of the eighth edition of Nigeria Info’s I Beg to Differ student debate tournament.
Olaiya secured the grand prize of ₦1 million after debating against 16-year-old Esther Joseph on the motion: "President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated he is the right leader for Nigeria.
Arguing against the motion, Olaiya contended that President Tinubu lacks legitimacy among many Nigerians, as some still view his election as flawed despite the Supreme Court’s dismissal of electoral malpractice cases. She also criticized his leadership within ECOWAS, citing regional instability and recent exits of member states. Additionally, she argued that the administration’s anti-corruption efforts appear selective, focusing on opposition figures while overlooking allegations against key officials such as Betta Edu and Sadiya Umar Farouq.
In support of the motion, Esther Joseph highlighted President Tinubu’s economic reforms, comparing them to his tenure as Lagos State governor. She emphasized his administration’s investment in transportation, particularly improvements in rail infrastructure, and argued that states have gained greater economic autonomy under his leadership.
For the final round, the debaters gave a presentation on their view of “The Nigerian Woman.”
The judges, in a split decision, declared Ifeoluwa Olaiya the winner of the tournament.
Chalokwu Naomi secured third place after her opponent, Akinsulie Oyindamola, withdrew from the competition.
Femi Obong-Daniels, Group Manager of CoolWazobiaNigeriaInfo, alongside sponsors Obiwezy, Diamonds and Pearls Travels, presented cash prizes of ₦1 million, ₦500,000, and ₦250,000 to the first, second, and third-place winners, respectively, along with additional gift prizes.
The top four debaters have automatically qualified for the I Beg to Differ Tournament of Champions, set to take place later this year.
