Victorious participants have emerged in the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) Inter-Campus Debate competition focused on Debt and Tax Justice in the South-West.
This debate competition is a component of the organization’s advocacy campaign on Tax and Debt Justice in the South-West region. The project is conducted in partnership with CISLAC Tax Justice and Governance Platform and Christian Aid Nigeria.
During the grand finale of the debate competition held in Osogbo on Thursday, Oladipupo Ramadan, an 18-year-old student from Lagos State University (LASU), won by defeating 16 other contestants with an impressive score of 93.5.
Listen to brilliant submission of tertiary institutions students during debt and tax justice debate
The debaters spoke on the topic ‘Navigating the Fiscal Quagmire: Is Accelerated Economic Growth a Viable Strategy for the South West to Overcome its Debt Spiral, or Does the Solution Lie in Tax Reforms.’
Meanwhile, Adediran Fawaz from Osun State University and Micheal Barnabas from the University of Ibadan (UI) claimed the first and second runners-up positions in the closely contested competition. All three winners received cash prizes as part of their rewards.
The organisers emphasized that the debate competition aimed to enhance the intellectual abilities of the participants. It focused on evaluating their comprehension of the implications of debts and tax justice on the economic stability of South-West states, with the goal of proposing practical solutions to address the financial challenges facing the region.
Mr. Sanni Issa-Alausa, the Director of Communications at BBYDI, extended congratulations to both the winners and other participants in the debate competition, expressing his sentiments, he said, “we believe they are all winners.”
According Mr. Issa-Alausa, 107 students from tertiary institutions across the South-West took part in the preliminary stage of the debate competition. Out of this number, 16 contestants progressed to the grand finale.
He added, “Our organisation is proud to host this intellectually stimulating and keenly contested debate competition which is a component of our ongoing advocacy campaign on Debt and Tax Justice in the South-West region. The debate seeks to excite the intellectual competencies of the participants, examine their understanding of the impact of debts and tax justice on the economic stability of South-West states and challenge them to proffer viable solutions to the fiscal challenges facing the region.”
The Global Director of BBYDI, Mr. Abideen Olasupo, expressed gratitude to all the students involved in the debate competition, commending their ability to critically analyze regional and national issues and propose solutions.
He highlighted the organization’s ongoing collaboration with two non-profit organizations, focusing on addressing tax management and emphasizing the critical importance of debt justice in the South-West region over the past few months.
Expressing concern about the increasing debt levels in the region, the BBYDI boss emphasized the urgency for South-West governments to curtail their inclination for borrowing.
He cautioned that such practices pose risks to fiscal sustainability and overall state development. Olasupo urged state governments in the South-West to enact crucial financial reforms to improve their fiscal ratings, ensuring sustainable economic growth and development.
He also urged governments to allocate increased funds for capital expenditure and prioritize investments in vital sectors such as infrastructure, education, health, and agriculture.
According to him, this strategic focus would make a substantial contribution to the overall development of the region.
“It is important for the states to explore and develop multiple innovative revenue sources beyond traditional sources to reduce dependency on federal allocations and loans. States in the South-West must improve their business enabling environments to attract investors and should also support local businesses to create job opportunities and stimulate economic development,” he added.
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