In a ceremony that beautifully blended royalty with scholarship, the Education Students’ Association of Nigeria (ESAN) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, officially unveiled the Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi Annual Intra-faculty Debate Competition.
The event, which held at the Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) Conference Hall, was one of the key highlights of the Ife Education Conference 3.0, and marked the investiture of Her Regal Majesty Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi through the Hopes Alive Initiative – a non-profit movement focused on education, empowerment, and community development.
Held under the theme “The Ripple Effect: How Education Fuels Progress in Every Sector,” the ceremony underscored the transformative power of knowledge and its relevance to sustainable national development.
In his welcome remarks, the President of the students’ association, Adelakun Damilola (popularly known as Damscod), said the launch of the debate competition was borne out of a desire to celebrate not just academic excellence but to honour a royal personality who has consistently championed youth development through education.
According to him, Her Majesty’s passion, advocacy and commitment to the goals of the Hopes Alive Initiative made her the ideal inspiration for a project aimed at building the next generation of thought leaders and transformational educators.
Speaking on behalf of the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor T. O. Bello, the Vice Dean Elect, Dr Olajide, commended the students for the bold initiative and described the competition as a vital tool for deepening intellectual discourse within the faculty.
He said the competition will serve not only as a platform for sharpening reasoning and argumentation skills but also as an incubator for producing socially conscious leaders who understand the power of knowledge and informed dialogue in shaping society.
Her Regal Majesty Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, who was warmly received by the students, delivered an inspiring address focused on the power of the human mind. She encouraged students to believe in themselves and to never underestimate the role of self-confidence in achieving greatness.
Sharing deeply personal stories of resilience and hope, she emphasised that everything starts from the mind, urging them to train it with as much discipline and care as they would any other aspect of their lives. Her message, filled with grace and wisdom, earned her a standing ovation from the audience.
During the occasion, Her Majesty was also honoured with a Distinguished Personality Award by the students' association, in recognition of her impactful leadership and unwavering support for youth and educational advancement.
Delivering the keynote address, education advocate Mrs. Folakemi Benson praised the vision behind the programme and highlighted the importance of nurturing critical thinking among future educators.
She challenged participants to see debates not just as contests, but as channels through which they can begin to influence real-world issues and policy directions that affect education and nation-building.
The event ended on a high note with the official unveiling of the debate series and a renewed sense of purpose among the students. Many in attendance described it as a landmark moment in the history of the faculty and a timely call to embrace excellence and vision.
The Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi Annual Intra-faculty Debate Competition is expected to become a flagship event that inspires critical thought, civic engagement and a lasting legacy of intellectual leadership across the university community.
