Schedule, Policies, and Information

About Us

The University of Calabar has been involved in serious debating activities over the years. The institution takes debating quite seriously and has a standing university-wide Debating Committee which is charged with the responsibility of developing and sustaining the debate culture in the university. The Committee is also mandated to sensitize and collaborate with other universities within and outside Nigeria towards the development of an enduring culture of debate within the university system.

The University also has a Debate Club, through which it has actively participated at both the Pan-African and World Universities Debating Championships, representing Nigeria, each time. Indeed, it was in recognition of its excellent performance at the Fourth Pan-African Universities Debating Championship (PAUDC) which was held at Falcon’s College, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in 2011, that Nigeria, again represented by the University of Calabar was awarded the prestigious hosting rights for the Sixth PAUDC (2013). That hosting right was ratified at the Fifth Championship held in Pretoria, South Africa, in December 2012. It is significant that the university has consistently hoisted the Nigerian flag at these tournaments, since 2008. It is also significant that through its effective representation by the University of Calabar, Nigeria will, by November/December 2013, become the first country in Africa, outside the Southern African Sub-region to host the prestigious Pan-African intellectual event, PAUDC.

As host institution for the Sixth PAUDC, the University of Calabar is currently in the process mobilizing other Universities in Nigeria and West Africa to ensure their massive participation at the tournament. The process began in 2012, when it organised the first South-South Universities Debating Championship, which was fully sponsored by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). There are plans at the moment to go beyond the South-South to organise an All Nigeria Universities Debating Championship, as a precursor to the Sixth PAUDC, in December.

The Culture of Debate

Debate is a very effective weapon in the development of democratic values. It informs, involves and inspires the citizenry on issues affecting their development, either as individuals, or as a collective. Debate is an avenue for healthy interaction and advocacy, as it has the huge capacity to break down the walls of primordial and stereotypical considerations which largely hold the people down, in order to pave the way for deeper understanding, tolerance and accommodation, in the midst of strong contending views and against the background of reason. Conversation, discussion, which is what debate implies, enhances public dialogue and engenders global critical thinking by encouraging participants to look carefully at the root causes and implications of controversies. It compels the individual to identify, carefully analyze and propose ideas on how to solve problems, taking into account other contending views.

 The enormous benefits of debate are maximised and sustained, especially when the endeavour, itself,  is entrenched as a way of doing things, a major component of the decision making process at all levels of human relations. In the absence of the culture of debate, impunity, corruption and mismanagement often define leadership, or governance. These contradictions equally engender enormous frustration, which often leads to the kinds of self-help among the citizenry that create insecurity and relentlessly threaten an organisation, or society.

It is regrettable that many societies appear to be oblivious of, and their leaders, for curious reasons, seem to ignore, the need for discussion, as a means of resolving their social, economic and political difficulties. African nations have fared, particularly badly in this respect, which is, perhaps, a major reason for the pervasive and intractable experience of corruption, poverty, insecurity, war and underdevelopment, across the continent. Indeed, African nations need to develop the habit of discussion and to debate their experiences more, as a matter of course. It seems natural, therefore, for African universities to take the lead in the development and sustenance of the culture of debate in Africa. Otherwise, they would be shirking a fundamental duty which they owe the African society: community development. It is equally significant that such intervention is anchored on university students through the PAUDC, for more enduring impact on the future of the continent.

Events

The Sixth Pan-African Universities Debating Championship, PAUDC (Nigeria 2013) will hold at the University of Calabar, Nigeria, from November 29 – December 8, 2013.

THEME

The theme of the 6^th PAUDC (Nigeria 2013) is ‘Conflict, Insecurity and Good Governance in Africa’. The Championship will provide a significant forum for university students, the cream of African youths, to engage those issues which have become matters of great concern in contemporary discourse in the continent.

About The Tournament (PAUDC)

The Pan-African Universities Debating Championship, otherwise known as PAUDC, is an annual debating tournament for bona fide students (both graduate and undergraduate) who are registered in universities within Africa. The competition came into existence in 2008, as a continental response to the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC). The inaugural tournament was held in Gaborone, Botswana, in that year and was hosted by the University of Botswana (UBot).

Since that first and hugely successful outing in 2008, the championship has held every year, subsequently: Second PAUDC, Botswana 2009 (University of Botswana, Gaborone); Third PAUDC, Namibia 2010 (University of Namibia, Windhoek); Fourth PAUDC, Zimbabwe 2011 (Contemporary African Affairs Foundation, CAF, Bulawayo); Fifth PAUDC, South Africa (Tshwane Knights) 2012 (Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria). The Sixth PAUDC, Nigeria 2013, will be hosted by Nigeria, via the University of Calabar, in November/December.

Aims and Objectives of the Tournament Beyond its initial impetus, which was to creatively respond to the existence of the WUDC, PAUDC was consciously established to provide an enabling platform for university students in Africa to interrogate contemporary continental and global challenges and offer alternative ideas on their resolution, through robust engagement in healthy intellectual competitions. In a deeper sense, PAUDC wishes to offer a forum for the sharing and fertilization of ideas by university students in Africa, who constitute essentially the cream of the youth population in the continent, to constructively engage governance and the management of African resources with a view to reforming the continent. As an institution, the championship, therefore, hopes to offer a veritable platform for the fostering of linkages between African youths and key policy makers for the overall development of the continent.

There is also the obvious benefit of fostering deep understanding and unity among African youths and, through them, their various countries and nations of extraction. As a university based tournament, PAUDC seeks to foster co-operation and collaboration among universities in Africa, providing a solid basis for healthy competition and replicating for the entire continent, at the intellectual level, the role that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Nations Cup play, at the level of soccer. The aims and objectives of the Championship are indeed vast and specifically include the following.

1.      To bring together university students from across the African continent to engage in competitive debating that will enhance their critical thinking and foster key leadership skills.

2.      To create a platform for the establishment of an African Universities Debating Board which will facilitate the dissemination of training materials, co-ordination of Pan-African debating events and co-operative fundraising efforts for international tournaments and training programmes.

3.      To create a forum through which the general African citizenry can be exposed to new ideas, discuss topical issues and thus be challenged to think critically.

4.      To build a culture of debate that extends from the universities to schools, permeating all segments of the African society.

5.      To develop structures that spread, support and encourage debate throughout the African continent, acting as an impetus for the development of debating in Africa by incentivising debaters to represent their universities and countries at accessible but prestigious international competitions.

Through its engagements, therefore, PAUDC seeks to provide a tool for the enhancement of critical thinking, communication skills, and the creation of good democratic ethos amongst young people, who are invariably the future leaders of the African society.In addition, it seeks to empower students to play an active role in facilitating dialogue on the various social and political issues of their communities and contribute meaningfully to the perennial continental and global search for enduring peace, security and development.

Tournament Methodology and Debate Format The tournament will use the British Parliamentary Debate Format. In other words, there will be four (4) teams in each round (match): two teams representing the Government and two, the Opposition. It is envisaged that there would be no less than nine (9) preliminary rounds, followed by Octos and, of course, a break to Quarter Finals. The successful teams would compete among themselves for a place in the Semi-Finals and, then, the Grand Finale.

Public speaking will be given adequate attention and participating teams are, hereby, encouraged to prepare adequately for contest in the event.

The above represents the basic information. Full details on the tournament methodology and debate format will be given in a fort-night, after due consultation with the Adjudication Core.

Adjudication Core/Adjudication Policy

The 6^th PAUDC (Nigeria 2013) anticipates a total of 200 teams and 150 adjudicators, which should work out to 50 debate rooms, with three adjudicators per room. It is expected that a CAP of at least ten (10) personnel will be adequately representative of the major regions of the continent (one or two may, indeed, be drawn from outside Africa). It consists of a Chief Adjudicator, from Botswana and

ü  Two Tab masters – a Tab Director and a Deputy Tab Director(this is to ensure that there will always be someone on ground to cross-check the tab as it runs);

ü  Five members of the Adjudication Core (including the Chief Adjudicator);

ü  Three Tournament Trainers, who will run trainings for new judges and debaters. (They will also serve as back-up adjudication core to apprehend any unforeseen development).

Details of the adjudication policy, together with the full list of the Adjudication Core will also be published within a fort-night.

Tournament Schedule

Tournament Schedule

Fri., Nov. 29           -     Arrival and Registration

Sat., Nov. 30          -     Briefing, Training and Pre-Council Meeting

Sun., Dec. 1            -     Briefing, Training, Masters and Opening Ceremony

Mon., Dec. 2           -     Preliminary Debate Rounds 1, 2 and 3

Tues., Dec. 3          -     Preliminary Debate Rounds 4, 5 and 6

Wed., Dec. 4           -     Preliminary Debate Rounds 7, 8 and 9 (Break Night)

Thu., Dec. 5            -     Debate Octos and Quarter Finals; Public Speaking Rounds

Fri., Dec. 6              -     Debate Semi finals, Public Speaking Rounds; Council Meeting;                            Outing and Cultural Night

Sat., Dec. 7              -     Finals, Closing Ceremony/Awards and Outing

Sun., Dec. 8            -     Departure

The micro details of timing, etc., will be provided in due course.

Organising Committee

The Organising Committee for the 6^th PAUDC is constituted as follows:

Chief Host                                                                  -           Professor James Epoke

 (Vice-Chancellor, University of Calabar)

Convener                                                                   -           Professor Eze Bassey Eze

Tournament Director                                              -           Dr. Ndubuisi Osuagwu

Director of Registration/Participants’ Affairs   -           Dr. Mrs. Agona Obembe/           

Mr. David Ejim

Director of Catering and Accommodation          -           Dr. Mrs. Eno Nta

Director of Transport and Logistics                     -           Dr. Frank Okpiliya

Director of Communication, Media, Publicity/

Marketing                                                                          -            Mr. Franklin David

Director of Tours and Socials                                -          Barr. Maxwell Eba

Director of Security                                                   -           Professor Eyong U. Eyong

Registration

Registration for 6^th PAUDC will be online. Each institution would be at liberty to register as many as, but not more than, three (3) teams of two debaters and one adjudicator, per team. In line with the N- 1Rule, institutions registering up to three teams would not be allowed to register more than two (2) adjudicators.

Observers (including staff, who are neither debaters, nor adjudicators from interested institutions) will be allowed and accredited as such. They would however pay the registration fees as approved for their status.

A). Early (Provisional) Registration:                                                                                       Provisional registration will open on our website (www.unical.edu.ng on the homepage, click on Unical Debates) for all interested universities from July 1 – 22, 2013. During the provisional registration period, each institution would be required to indicate its interest and provide such information on the composition of its contingent as number of debating teams; number of adjudicators and number of observers.

Such details of members of contingents as names, departments, registration numbers – for students; phone numbers, etc., may be included at this point, if they are immediately available. Otherwise, they should be provided, subsequently but not later than October 25, 2013.

Institutions wishing to participate, or individuals wishing to observe, would be required to complete and submit the Tournament Registration Form, online. It is advisable but not compulsory that the necessary registration fees be paid during this period. Individual letters of invitation will be issued, as soon as the completed registration forms are received.

Registration Fees: Registration fee per team is $100 USD. Observers would be required to pay $200 USD to register.

Part-payment of registration fees may be allowed from July 23 – August 20, provided that full payment must be made not later than October 3, 2013.

B).Late Registration Fees: Any registration received after August 20 would be treated as late registration and would attract an additional fee of $50 USD.

Please, note that bank details will be provided to institutions once provisional registration has been completed. Also, no registration will be accepted after the absolute time line of October 3, 2013.

Interact with Us

We would be glad to receive your comments, observations, suggestions and questions. We shall do our best to respond to questions and address those issues that require our attention. You are welcome to interact with us. Just click on the contact links on the homepage (calabar.tabroom.com).

 Contact Us

For further information, please visit our website:www.unical.edu.ng/unicaldebates

Or, contact any of the following:

Prof. Eze Bassey Eze                                                             Dr.NdubuisiOsuagwu

Convener                                                                               Tournament Director

+2348067742800                                                             +2348037208205

zezebas@yahoo.com                                                         endee2011@gmail.com

 David Inung Ejim                                                                   Franklin Ubi David

Secretary, PAUDC                                       RecruitmentOfficer, PAUDC(West Africa)

+2348082668882                                                             +2347031126664

dvdejim@gmail.com                                                          franklinubi@gmail.com

 You can also reach us by e-mail at:debateatunical@unical.edu.ng