By Foday Moriba Conteh
During a well-attended ceremony held on Saturday 29th July, 2023 at the USL Conference Room on IPAM Campus in Freetown, the Advisory Board Chairman and Chief Sponsor of the Sierra Leone Debating Council, Dr. Ezekiel Kalvin Duramany-Lakkoh, officially launched the 7th National Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship (NICDC 2023).
According to the Advisory Board Chairman, the 7th National Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship, which is scheduled to take place on the 15th & 16th November, 2023 will be held at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone.
He commended members for their tireless efforts towards the development of the Council, over the years, adding that they have come a long way and should continue to contribute to nation building.
Dr. Ezekiel Kalvin Duramany-Lakkoh concluded by announcing the various colleges that will participant in this year’s National Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship and they include Fourah Bay College, Institute of Public Administration and Management, College of Medicine, Njala University, Eastern Polytechnic, MMTU, University of Makeni, Central University, Freetown Polytechnic, Liccsal Business College, Limkokwing College etc.
The National Secretary of the Sierra Leone Debating Council, Mohamed Salami, said the National Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship is one of the biggest gatherings of university students that gives students the opportunity to engage, network and ensure that they articulate issues and proffer solutions to national issues.
He said Council is with the strong conviction that this year’s competition will be more standard as they continue to improve on the standard of their events.
Mohamed Salami said the National Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship was launched in 2012 and since then several colleges have emerged winners of the competition.
He said the first edition in 2012 was won by Liccsal Business College and since then other colleges have won the competition as well including Fourah Bay College, University of Makeni, Njala University etc.
The National Secretary urged colleges to prepare very well for the National Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship 2023, speculating that the competition is going to be extraordinary.
Members of the Advisory Board of the Sierra Leone Debating Council, including Asmieu Bah and Madam Mariama Jajua also made statements at the launching of the 7th National Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship (NICDC 2023).
Climaxing the ceremony was the official certification and awards of winners/champions of the 5th Inter-Departmental Debate Championship (Dr. Ezekiel Kalvin Duramany-Lakkoh Trophy) of the Sierra Leone Debating Council , IPAM Chapter, featuring Public Speaking and Essay Writings.
