OOU, UNIBEN pharmacy students slug it out at debate

As part of the events marking the annual Health Week of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), the University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter lask week organised a debate between different pharmacy schools in Nigeria.

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The UNIBEN chief speaker, Benjamin Idiakhoa, a 300-Level student of the Department of Pharmacy, supported the motion that: ‘Amnesty is Not the Way Forward in Ensuing Security Challenge.’
“I was stunned the day I went to the bank to withdraw my last cash when I overheard the beneficiary of amnesty scheme, saying to the other that they had been paid N60,000. I almost wept for this country.
“These are the same people who kidnapped our fathers and mothers. We lived in fear and now they are being paid for committing such atrocities. I obey all the laws of the land yet I was left with nothing not even a scholarship. I still struggle to get three square meals. Amnesty is a slap on our integrity and I believe the money put into amnesty programme should be used to overhaul the security system and for scholarship,” Benjamin lamented.
He further debunked insinuations that he was not supporting amnesty programme because he was not related to any kidnapped victim.
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, Nigeria ought to take a bold step to end the violence and not negotiation. This is because when you negotiate with one, before long, another group will come up, asking for negotiation.”
His opponent from the School of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, expressed his support for the amnesty programme.
“You don’t use force to tackle force, if not it would deteriorate into a full blown war. Nigeria have to tread the path of peaceful resolution,” OOU’s chief speaker, Omotoyosi Odusanya, a 500-Level student, said.
At the end of their presentations, OOU emerged with 58.5 points, while UNIBEN had 59.3 points. The judges were Godfrey Umhenin, Desmond Onakhogba and Jude Isesele.
Commending the students, Umhenin appreciated their display of intelligence and command of words, while further encouraging them to be better citizens and shun violence.
“Today you find jobless youths going about occupying themselves with frivolities. These are the ones that get initiated into terrorism, as the going says ‘idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ Study your books and keep yourselves busy as everyone here is leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Speaking to with Campusbeats, Ganiyat Alaraba of OOU, who won the best speaker of the debate, said she was happy and thanked the organisers and sponsors of the debate.
“UNIBEN put up a lot of effort and skills. The government should overhaul various sectors in order to bring the good out of its citizens,” she said.
Meanwhile, an idea quest was organised to bring out various business ideas that could be opened in the university environment. The winners were given mini laptops, IPAD and table top refrigerators.
Eddy Uwoghiren, 200-Level, Medicine and Surgery and Ezekiel
Efeobhokhan, 300-Level, Pharmacy.