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Ten universities entered the Suad Baydoun National Debate and Essay Writing Competition, but only four emerged to contest the grand final on Friday.
Fourah Bay College (FBC), the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), and the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) secured their places after the opening day of the competition. The preliminary rounds tested students on critical thinking, public speaking, and analytical skills under the theme “Empowering Sierra Leone’s Youth to Shape a Sustainable Future.”
The competition, launched by Housemate Salone Season 4 winner Suad Baydoun through Baydoun Company Limited in May 2026, offers awards valued at over NLe 200,000. The initiative aims to promote academic excellence, leadership, and creativity among young Sierra Leoneans.
The grand finale is scheduled for 9:00 AM at City Hall Auditorium.
UNIMAK enters the final with a strong debating pedigree, having won the ECOWAS University Debate Championship in March 2025, outperforming FBC, IPAM, and MMTU in that contest as well. The four finalists also faced each other in an ECOWAS Volunteers Programme parliamentary debate in April 2025 at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
The competition is exclusively for university students, while a separate essay writing component is open to secondary school students nationwide.
