By Daniel Kudayah
Veritas University, Abuja, is set to host about 1,000 delegates from universities across Africa for the 2026 Pan-African Universities Debate Championship, PAUDC.
The nine-day continental event will hold from December 12 to 20, 2026, at the university’s campus in Bwari, Abuja, under the theme, “The Republic of Reason: Building Africa’s Future Through Debate.”
Chairman of the Veritas University Senate Committee on PAUDC 2026, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, announced the event at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
Idachaba described the championship as more than a debating competition, saying it would provide a platform for young Africans to discuss major challenges facing the continent and develop ideas that could shape its future.
According to him, the event will bring together young intellectuals from different African countries to discuss governance, democracy, economic development, technology, peace, identity and Africa’s place in a changing world.
The championship will also feature a total prize purse of $20,000 across major competitive categories.
The winning debate team will receive sponsorship to represent Africa at the next World Universities Debating Championship, giving the champions an opportunity to compete on the global stage.
The event will also feature a Public Speaking Championship, while the Legacy Lab will provide mentorship and incubation for promising student-led projects.
Selected projects under the initiative will be eligible for seed funding of up to $5,000.
Another feature of the championship is “Voices of a Continent,” a civic and intellectual conversation focusing on Pan-Africanism, leadership, citizenship and Africa’s future.
Idachaba said the organisers wanted the ideas generated during the event to continue beyond the competition.
“Our goal is that when the final gavel falls, something remains — projects, collaborations, relationships and ideas capable of living beyond the Championship,” he said.
He said Veritas University was selected to host the event because of its record in competitive debating.
According to him, Veritas became the first and remains the only Nigerian university to win PAUDC, after emerging champion in 2022.
