UNILORIN wins 2026 ANUDC quiz/public speaking championships
…emerges with two national trophies, 10 medals
By Mustafa Abubakar
The University of Ilorin has emerged champion of the 2026 Ultimate NAIJA Quiz Challenge and the Public Speaking category of the 13th All-Nigeria Universities Debating Championship (ANUDC), emerging from the Championship with two national trophies and 10 medals.
The Championship, held between September 7 and 13, 2026, and hosted by Rivers State University in Port Harcourt, represents a significant milestone for the University, which had previously hosted the All-Nigeria Universities Debating Championship on two occasions. This time, away from its home ground, the University produced a remarkable performance across the various competitions to claim the two national championship titles.
The contingent of the University reached the Grand Finale in every category (Debate, Public Speaking and Quiz), winning the Public Speaking and Quiz Championships and returning with 10 medals across open debate, novice debate, public speaking and adjudication.
In the Ultimate NAIJA Quiz Challenge, the UNILORIN team began its journey in the quarter final, competing in Group B alongside LAUTECH, Crawford University and AAUA. The team scored 370 points, recording 200 points in the first question and 170 points in the second, to finish fourth in the group and advancing to the semi-final.
The UNILORIN Quiz team comprised Oniyangi Yusuf Abdulwariz, Zoology; Gbadamosi Fredrick Olasunkanmi, Information Technology; and Olunloyo Shehu Olawale, Computer Science.
In the semi final, UNILORIN competed against the University of Ibadan, University of Uyo and Godfrey Okoye University in a two-leg Rapid Fire Challenge. The team recorded 250 points in the first leg and 100 points in the second leg, finishing with 350 points and securing a place in the final.
The final brought together UNILORIN, Godfrey Okoye University and the University of Ibadan.
UNILORIN delivered its defining performance at the competition in the final. In the Face Off segment, the team accumulated 230 points before producing an outstanding 650 points in the Rapid Fire Challenge.
With a combined final score of 880 points, UNILORIN finished first ahead of Godfrey Okoye University, which scored 820 points, and the University of Ibadan, which scored 790 points.
The road of the University to the title saw the team record 370 points and fourth position in the quarter final, 350 points and qualification for the final in the semi-final, before scoring 880 points to finish first in the final.
The result marks first championship victory of the University in the Ultimate NAIJA Quiz Challenge and adds another significant achievement to the record of the University’s intellectual engagement at ANUDC.
From fourth position in the quarter final to national champions in the final, UNILORIN demonstrated resilience, consistency and the ability to raise its performance when it mattered most.
The success of the University extended to the Public Speaking category, where the UNILORIN team emerged champion. Adio Boluwatife, Biomedical Engineering, emerged champion and Best Speaker, while Sanni Hadiza Oyiza, Common Law, also reached the Grand Final.
UNILORIN also recorded a strong showing in the Open Debate category, with three separate teams advancing into the knockout stages, giving the institution a presence at every elimination round.
The Open Debate Grand Finalists were Adeyemi Haleem Adekunle, Agricultural Extension, and Olowookere Ganiyat Oluwakemi, Common and Islamic Law.
The semi finalists were Popoola Muideen Olasunkanmi, Information Technology, and Tivlumun Sesugh Alexander, Information Technology, while the quarter finalists were Anjorin Teminijesu Success, Microbiology, and Akinjayeju Mitchell Temitope, Microbiology.
Four UNILORIN students were ranked among the top seven in the open speakers tournament. They are Adeyemi Haleem Adekunle, who was ranked second Best Speaker, Olowookere Ganiyat Oluwakemi, third Best Speaker, Popoola Muideen Olasunkanmi, fifth Best Speaker, while Tivlumun Sesugh Alexander was seventh Best Speaker.
In the Novice Debate category, both UNILORIN delegates reached the Grand Finale. They were Adesina David Toluwani, Information Technology, and Adeniyi David, Pharmacy.
Adesina David Toluwani emerged fourth Best Novice Speaker, while Adeniyi David was ranked sixth Best Novice Speaker.
The University also recorded notable achievements in adjudication. Sanni Hadiza Oyiza, Common Law, was the second Best Institutional Judge in Debate; Ajayi Williams Ayomide, Medical Laboratory Science, was the second Best Novice Judge in Debate; while Popoola Muideen Olasunkanmi, Information Technology, was the fifth Best Judge in Public Speaking.
The 2026 ANUDC was particularly special for UNILORIN because the team made it to the finals across all competitions and secured 10 medals and two trophies.
The achievement reflects the depth of the contingent, with its delegates recording notable performances across the open debate bracket, novice debate, public speaking, quiz and judging pool in the same tournament.
The student contingent comprised Popoola Muideen Olasunkanmi, Information Technology; Tivlumun Sesugh Alexander, Information Technology; Anjorin Teminijesu Success, Microbiology; Akinjayeju Mitchell Temitope, Microbiology; Olowookere Ganiyat Oluwakemi, Common and Islamic Law; Adeyemi Haleem Adekunle, Agricultural Extension; Adesina David Toluwani, Information Technology; Adeniyi David, Pharmacy; Adedokun Yusroh Aderayo, Information Technology; Ajayi Williams Ayomide, Medical Laboratory Science; Sanni Hadiza Oyiza, Common Law; Adio Boluwatife, Biomedical Engineering; Fajimi Eyitomilayo Ngozi, Anatomy; Oniyangi Yusuf Abdulwariz, Zoology; Gbadamosi Fredrick Olasunkanmi, Information Technology; and Olunloyo Sheu Olawale, Computer Science.
The leader of the delegation, Prof. Oluyinka A. Iyiola, accompanied by Dr Yahaya Suleiman and Dr Kaseem Laaro, appreciated the University Management, adding that their support has enriched the steadiness of the students
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has congratulated the champions, medalists, delegates and their mentors on the outstanding performance.
The Vice Chancellor, in a statement issued by the Director of Corporate Affairs of University, Mr Kunle Akogun, commended the students for their dedication, intellectual capacity, discipline and commitment to excellence, noting that their achievements further demonstrate the commitment of the University to intellectual development, public speaking, debate, innovation and academic excellence.
He also commended Prof. Iyiola, Dr Suleiman, Dr Laaro and all members of the Quiz, Debate and Innovation Committee of the University, for their roles in preparing and supporting the contingent.
The Vice Chancellor wished the champions and medalists continued success, while congratulating them for representing the University with distinction and making UNILORIN proud.
