The winner of the Ambassador Anthony Navo Junior Debate Championship, is heading to Accra for the Youth International Diplomacy Conference.

Abdulai Barrie, a third-year Political Science and International Relations student at the University of Makeni (UniMak), has left Sierra Leone to attend the Youth International Diplomacy Conference in Accra, Ghana, after winning the Ambassador Anthony Navo Junior Departmental Debate Championship

The competition, which was organized by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), was held in May 2024 to select deserving students who will represent the university on all stages.

According to a statement released by the Students’ Representative Council on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, Barrie’s participation in the conference, which is set to commence on August 28 and end on the 31st of the same month, is part of the winning package that was promised by the president of the council, Edmond Alim B. Fornah, adding that the SRC also rewarded him with a one-year tuition fee.

Victory Lamcess Mansaray, the SRC Ag Minister of Information and Civic Education, said the council fully sponsored Barrie’s trip to Ghana by providing him with an air ticket, accommodation and meals throughout the event.

Speaking to Sierraloaded, Barrie expressed his enchantment of attending the conference in Ghana, referencing it as one of the many benefits of public speaking and debate.

“I feel delighted attending this conference in Ghana. This is a testament to where public speaking and debate can take you in life. I am honored that my department, my university and the country will be represented in Accra this 2024. UniMak to the world! The SRC is appreciated. I wish them success in many more endeavors. I will do my best in representing the University, ” Abdulai Barrie said.

The International Youth Diplomacy Conference is a prestigious global event that gathers young leaders, diplomats, and policymakers from around the world to engage in discussions and activities centered on international relations, diplomacy and global governance.