The final of the fifth edition of the Abdul Charles Mansaray Memorial Debate Championship was hosted last Saturday, the 22nd of June 2024 at the University of Makeni Auditorium.

After several encounters with other debaters in the preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals of the debate, eight outstanding speakers proceeded to the final.

While challenging assumptions from opposing speakers, the debaters approached the sitting with intellectual rigor, eloquence and commitment to the principles that guide a British Parliamentary debate.

Fast-forward to the end, the competition was adjudicated by the judges, awarding Miriam Moseray as the best speaker of the fifth edition of the Abdul Charles Mansaray Debate Championship.

Speaking to Sierraloaded, Miriam said she felt happy and fulfilled after winning the debate, adding that the competition was worth the many hours of diligence she put into it.

“Well, I felt good and fulfilled because I gave the competition my all and my very best. I had sleepless nights practicing and watching tutorials on how to be good at the British Parliamentary debate. It was not an easy one but at the end of the day it was worth the sacrifice, ” Miriam Moseray said.

“My experience was great. It is worth reminiscing because looking back at the finalists, we were all top-notch debaters. So, it was a fair fight. All I have to say is this: in order to win, you must give your all to anything you are doing. Honestly, at the beginning of the competition, I never pictured myself to be the winner. Anyway, at long last, l emerged as the winner. All I will say is being a winner comes with two sides: the hate and the love. I will keep on choosing the positive side and experience, because they yield healthy relationships, ” she added.

The competition is held annually in memory of the late journalist, Abdul Charles Mansaray, and in keeping alive his legacies as a lecturer of the Mass Communication Department at the University of Makeni until his demise.
The Abdul Charles Mansaray Memorial Debate Championship aims to offer students a valuable perspective on rhetoric argumentation and critical thinking, according to the convenor, Shebora Samba Kamara.

“It enhances their ability to analyze and communicate complex ideas effectively, fostering skills crucial for careers in Journalism, Public Speaking, Development Communication and Media Studies,” Shebora Samba Kamara told Sierraloaded.