By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has announced the winners of the 2025 Zonal Face-to-Face Phase of the National Campus Debate, a flagship civic engagement programme aimed at stimulating intellectual rigour, national consciousness, and value-based discourse among Nigerian youths.
The zonal debates, which held across the six geopolitical zones of the country, drew widespread participation from universities and polytechnics. However, following the contests, the Agency received multiple petitions from institutions requesting a review of the screening outcomes.
In line with its commitment to fairness, transparency, and institutional credibility, NOA’s Director General, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, constituted an Independent Screening Panel to re-evaluate the zonal submissions.
Working independently in Abuja on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the panel carefully reviewed full video recordings of each zonal debate using the official standardised scoring rubric. Institutions were assessed on knowledge of subject matter, delivery, team coordination, rebuttal strength, and overall impact.
Zonal Champions Emerge
After the review, the panel confirmed the following institutions as zonal winners:
North Central: Federal University, Lokoja – 32 Points
North East: Federal University, Wukari – 35.1 Points
North West: Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari – 32.02 Points
South East: Nigerian British University – 32.33 Points
South South: Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) – 33.63 Points
South West: Mountain Top University – 36 Points
These institutions will now represent their zones at the Grand Finale of the National Campus Debate, scheduled to hold at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during Nigeria’s Independence Week celebrations.
A Historic Grand Finale
This year’s Grand Finale promises to be symbolic as it will also feature the Presidential Unveiling of the National Values Charter—a landmark initiative that underscores the convergence of youth, national values, and leadership at the highest level.
DG Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Development
Reaffirming the Agency’s dedication to institutional integrity, transparency, and youth empowerment, the NOA Director General praised all participants for their passion, discipline, and intellectual contributions.
“The National Campus Debate is more than a competition; it is a platform for shaping Nigeria’s future through youth-led dialogue and civic innovation,” Issa-Onilu declared.
The Agency extended appreciation to all participating institutions and urged the Nigerian public to follow the Grand Finale through NOA’s official media channels and nationwide broadcasts.
