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…Veritas assures of accommodation, security
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
No fewer than 120 universities from 30 African countries have expressed interest in participating in the 2026 Pan-African Universities Debate Championship (PAUDC), scheduled to hold at Veritas University, Abuja, from December 12 to 20.
The championship, expected to attract about 1,000 delegates, will mark Nigeria’s return to hosting the continental university debating community more than a decade after the country last hosted the event.
Chairman of the Veritas University Senate Committee on PAUDC 2026, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, saying the event would provide a platform for young Africans to engage critically with issues affecting the continent.
The championship is themed, “The Republic of Reason: Building Africa’s Future Through Debate.”
A member of the Pan-African University Central Committee, said that as of September 23, organisers had received registration details and expressions of interest from about 120 universities across 30 African countries.
Idachaba said the championship would go beyond competitive debating to promote intellectual exchange, Pan-African understanding, youth leadership and civic engagement.
According to him, participants would debate issues bordering on governance, economic development, technology, peace, democracy, identity and Africa’s place in a rapidly changing world.
He said the organisers deliberately chose the theme because Africa needed greater engagement among its young people, stressing that critical reasoning and dialogue could help bridge differences across countries and cultures.
“Africans need to engage more in talking to ourselves, in sharing our frustrations, in sharing our vision,” Idachaba said.
He said the championship would enable participants to examine African challenges from the perspectives of people who live through them, rather than relying solely on external interpretations.
The event, he added, would also generate economic benefits for businesses and service providers in Abuja and the Bwari community through accommodation, transportation, hospitality, entertainment and other services.
On funding, Idachaba said organisers were optimistic about securing the required support following the endorsement of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
He said the organisers had reached out to members of the education and financial sectors, including major banks, with assurances of support.
The championship will offer a total prize reward of $20,000 across key competitive categories, while the winning debate team will receive sponsorship to represent Africa at the next World Universities Debating Championship.
“Beyond the main debate competition, the programme will feature a Public Speaking Championship, ‘Voices of a Continent’ civic and intellectual sessions, and the Legacy Lab, where promising student-led initiatives will receive mentorship and incubation.
“Selected projects under the Legacy Lab are expected to receive seed funding of up to $5,000 to enable participants translate ideas generated during the championship into practical initiatives,”.he said.
Idachaba said Veritas University was chosen to host the event partly because of its record in competitive debating.
He recalled that Veritas became the first Nigerian university to win PAUDC in 2022 and subsequently emerged champion of the Commonwealth Universities Debating Championship in Rwanda in 2024.
He added that the university recently returned from the All Nigerian Universities Debate Championship with three trophies and 11 medals.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, assured that the institution was ready to accommodate and secure the expected delegates.
He said the university had already commenced preparations, including the provision of additional hostel facilities designed to accommodate visiting students.
On security, Ichoku said the university was working with relevant security agencies to ensure the protection of delegates from their arrival in Nigeria until their departure.
“We are not just limiting our ability to protect and secure our guests to Veritas,” he said, adding that the military, police and other security agencies would be involved.
He said the university had also written the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and was engaging other relevant government authorities on security and logistics for the championship.
The Vice-Chancellor said the institution was confident that the preparations would provide a safe and conducive environment for the continental gathering.
