The Executive Director of the CHEN Teen and Youth Development Initiative, Dr. Olushola Oresanya, emphasized the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the emerging artificial intelligence (AI) era.
Oresanya made this statement at the 2026 Abuja Schools Debate Tournament and Seminar on Wednesday in Abuja.
The event, themed “Powering Tomorrow: Are Africa’s Youth Ready to Lead and Compete in the Global AI Era?”, brought together students from public and private secondary schools, educators, government officials, and development partners.
She noted that the annual debate tournament was created to provide a platform for young people to discuss issues affecting them and contribute to societal development.
“We established the Abuja Schools Debate Tournament to engage young people in discussions on issues that impact them and society,” she said.
Oresanya explained that the competition encourages students to express their views on contemporary issues while developing critical thinking, research, and leadership skills. Participants also receive training in public speaking and research before the event.
This year’s edition adopted the World Debate Competition format to expose students to international debating standards.
Organized in partnership with the Davida Omosanmi Empowerment Foundation (DOE Foundation), the initiative aims to prepare students for global opportunities. Winners will have the chance to participate in international debate platforms and gain exposure to global networks.
“The winning students will be able to compete at the international level and access resources through global debate platforms,” she said.
Oresanya highlighted that focusing on artificial intelligence for this year’s competition was driven by its growing influence on education, employment, and daily life.
“AI presents vast opportunities for young people, and they need to learn how to engage with it responsibly and ethically,” she stated.
She also mentioned that outstanding students would receive sponsorship to register on international debate platforms.
Additionally, Dr. Depsan Kwande, Director of Education and Social Development at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, stated that the ministry is implementing programs to prepare youths for an AI-driven future.
Represented by Mrs. Grace Ojeaburu, a deputy director in the ministry, Kwande recognized the importance of AI in education, entrepreneurship, and employment. She noted that recent initiatives aim to help youths acquire AI-related knowledge and apply it to agriculture, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
The report indicated that 20 schools participated in the competition, with Lela Blossoms School emerging as the winner, followed by Joachcare Academy and Focus High School in second and third places, respectively.
Cash prizes of N100,000, N70,000, and N50,000 were awarded to the first, second, and third-place winners, respectively, along with 20 percent tuition scholarships.
