GBARNGA, Liberia- The Cuttington University in Suakoko District, Bong County, central Liberia has emerged as winner of the National Youth Movement for Democratic Initiatives National Universities’ Debate Competition.
NAYMOTE’s debate is held across Liberia. And Cuttington University defeated both the Bong County Technical College (BCTC) and the Grand Bassa County Community College (GBCCC) with wide margins.
The defeat of the Grand Bassa County Community College subsequently qualified the award winning Cuttington University owned by the Episcopal Church in Liberia to face the United Methodist University (UMU) in the grand finals of the competition at the Belle Casa Hotel in Monrovia.
During the final stages of the competition, Cuttington University intellectually trashed the United Methodist University (UMU) with a margin of 3.95, which eventually led the “Scorpions” to clinching the trophy over their counterparts.
The debate was attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Varney Sirleaf, CU’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Charles Wesley Ford and other distinguished university’s professors, students and well-wishers, who had gone to cheer their various institutions.
Three community colleges and six universities across Liberia participated in the competition in which CU triumphed, becoming champions.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Executive Director of the National Youth Movement for Democratic Initiatives (NAYMOTE), Eddie Jarwolo told the gathering that the primary purpose of the just ended National Universities’ Debate Competition is to decentralize the local governance act for the devolution of power.
He explained that when the local governance act is intellectually debated among university’s students, most Liberians will be informed about activities of central Government.
The NAYMOTE Executive Director at the occasion however thanked participating universities and colleges for taking advantage of the national debate.
“We are all winners despite Cuttington University won this 2019/2020 National Universities’ Debate. I want to thank the six universities and three colleges participating during the start of the entire process,” Mr. Eddie Jarwolo added.
For his part, Cuttington University’s VPAA, Dr. Charles Ford lauded NAYMOTE and partners for the event and termed it as an “eye opener.”
Dr. Ford stressed that CU has over the years been noted for national intellectual discourse and academic excellence.
He emphasized, “At CU, we do two things; either we win or we win.”
The CU’s debate team, which comprises of some astute students of various colleges at Cuttington, secured a cash prize of LD $100,000.00 for having emerged as first winner, while the United Methodist University walked away with a cash prize of LD $50,000.00 as second place securer.
The www.newspublictrust.com Reporter, who closely followed the final stages of the competition, says students of CU including other universities were all seen jubilant mood, as they all had the opportunity to display their intellectual skills and qualities at such a national event.