The Universities of Abuja and Ibadan have emerged winners at a 2018 university debate competition organised by YIAGA Africa.

The two institutions which joined four others, Universities of Kaduna, Maiduguri, Calabar and Michael Okpara, in Abuja at the competition’s grand finale, in debating on the need for ‘Youth Affirmative Action’ in the country’s political arena, were each declared winner after careful and detailed discussions on the topic.

Speaking to journalists at the event, the Programme Manager, YIAGA Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, said the debate was needed to help prepare the youths in making right choices while voting during elections.

Mbamalu said that the competition was meant to also get youths re-accustomed to participating and demanding good governance of their leaders.

She said there is a notable gap between the present day youths and that of the past as the former seem not to know their rights in the politics of the country.

“In the past, youths had a say, they even worked hard and spoke with one voice to get our independence, they were strong in demanding good governance from the government of the day but today’s youths seem to be just quiet.

“We needed to bring these young ones on board to develop their voices. Youths, particularly students, make up 55 percent of voters for the 2019 election, according to INEC register, so we see that we can’t talk of national development, youths inclusion without getting them to lead the discourse.,” she said.

A Senior Program Officer of the Organisation, Umar Faruk, disclosed that YIAGA had since gone round the six geo-political zones earlier in the year to get students from 12 institutions involved.

He added that the move is expected to stimulate the student’s curiosity about what’s going on in their respective communities.

Speaking at the event, Co-convener, Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG), Aisha Yesufu said while the debate was needful, it was also pertinent not to ignore the fact that youths need the right education to thrive in an enabling environment.

Urging parents and guardians to groom their youths by giving them a voice in their respective homes, she said the African culture which keeps youth mute when critical issues are being discussed by elders in their homes was not helping matters.

“Though youth inclusion is critically important, it should start from the home, the young ones should be given opportunity to speak. They are being made to be quiet because culture states you should be quiet in the presence of elders,” she said.