Abakaliki: Three Ebonyi students from various universities have been awarded a one-year tuition fee each for emerging winners of the maiden edition of Tertiary Institutions Debate in the state. The debate was organised by the Ministries of Justice and Solid Minerals Resources and Development in the state, on Tuesday, in Abakaliki.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme of the debate was ‘Mobilising Collective Efforts for the Actualisation of the People’s Charter of Needs: Mineral Resources as a Catalyst for Peace and Development in Ebonyi State.’ The Chief Judge at the grand finale, Mr. Charles Chukwu, announced that out of the 30 students who registered for the debate, only six reached the final stage in Abakaliki. Chukwu congratulated the participants and encouraged them to strive for greater achievements in the future.
The winners of the debate were Gold Egwu, a 200-level Nursing Science student at Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi (AE-FUNAI), who secured the first position with 90 points. Anyigor Basil, a 400-level Physiology student at Ebonyi State University (EBSU), came in second with 78 points, while Ezekiel Mbam, a 200-level Physiology student at EBSU, placed third with 68 points. Chukwu noted that the three winners are entitled to a one-year tuition fee as support for their education.
In his remarks, the state’s Attorney-General, Mr. Ben Odoh, urged youths in society to embrace mineral resources development for peacebuilding and economic development. Odoh, also the Commissioner for Justice, highlighted the crises that often follow the discovery of mineral resources. He stated that 90 percent of the crises in Ebonyi communities stem from poor management of these resources. The debate aimed to instill in students the importance of managing mineral resources for economic growth without causing disorder.
Mr. Chidi Onyia, the state’s Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, represented by Mr. Jacob Ekuma, HoD Monitoring in the ministry, praised the participants and called for the debate’s adoption in the state. Onyia emphasized the importance of equitable management of mineral resources in fostering peace, unity, and economic growth. He noted that such management involves the host community and creates job opportunities. The commissioner listed mineral deposits in Ebonyi, including brine (salt), granite, lead ore (galena), sand, limestone, barites, marble stones, and gypsum.