All is set for the 4th EAC University students’ debate scheduled to take place on 18th – 19th December 2015 at the International University of East Africa in Kampala, Uganda. The debate is expected to bring together representation from University students, lecturers, academia, policy makers, media, youth leaders and high school students within the region.
The EAC University Students’ Debate Model is an interactive and representational style of debating aimed at educating, discussing and making resolutions among the Youth in East African to nurture a bond of “eastafricaness” with a distinct East African identity that is very much desired. The objective of the EAC-University students’ Debate Model is to exchange information, share ideas and recognize a common ground among the students and youth in the bloc.
Apart from ascertaining the analytical skills of debaters; encouraging research among the debaters about the EAC integration process; as well as encouraging diplomatic policy formulation among the debaters; the EAC University students’ debate aims at discovering leadership talent and appoint Youth Ambassadors to champion the integration process.
The EAC University Students Debate emphasizes on the use of the value and policy approaches given that the EAC Integration is people centered and Private Sector driven, hence giving the youth an opportunity to come up with policies that will enable the Secretariat develop programs and initiatives aimed at empowering youth in the region.
The debate will comprise of two teams; Affirmative Team made up of Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Amicus Curiae and the Counsel to the Community, and the second team will be the Alternative Strategy Team comprising of the Attorneys General from each Partner State. This has been set as the correct position for this form of dialogue to avoid the word “opposition” used in the context in which it is always perceived.
Each team will comprise of 5 debaters drawn from the five Partner States making 10 debaters from the two teams. Prof. Dr. Sandy Stevens Tickodri Tagaboa, Uganda’s State Minister in charge of Higher Education, Science and Technology is expected to officiate at the official opening. Others expected are Prof. Olubayi Olubayi, Vice Chancellor, International University of East Africa; Prof. Alexandre Lyambabaje, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council of East Africa, and Mr. Charles Njoroge, the EAC Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation). A gala dinner and award ceremony to be officiated by Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary General, accompanied by the VC – IUEA, State Minster in charge of Higher Education and the Speaker of EALA will crown the 4th EAC University students’ debate on Saturday 19th December 2015.
The youth of East Africa are important stakeholder in the EAC processes and form substantial part of the population. Article 120 (c) of the EAC Treaty[1] provides for adoption of a common approach for involvement of the youth in the integration process through education, training and mainstreaming youth issues into EAC policies, programmes and projects as one of the strategic interventions towards the realization of a fully integrated Community.
ADVERTISEMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.