A student from Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State, Hajara Ahmad, has emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 edition of the annual debate competition organised by Arewa Radio.
Other outstanding participants included Rukayya Muhammad from Bachirawa, Ungogo Local Government Area, who clinched the second position, while Ummusalma Mustapha of GGSS Kura secured third place.
The competition, which continues to serve as a platform for promoting intellectual discourse, critical thinking, public speaking and youth development, reached its highly anticipated final stage after weeks of engaging and competitive rounds.
The young debaters underwent a rigorous process to qualify for the finals, where they showcased exceptional talent, creativity and excellence throughout the competition.
Speaking after emerging victorious, Hajara Ahmad attributed her success to the unwavering support and encouragement of her teachers and parents.
During the debate, Hajara supported the motion advocating increased budgetary allocation to the education sector, while second-place winner Rukayya Muhammad highlighted the need for more funding for the health sector. Ummusalma Mustapha, who came third, argued against the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agricultural development.
The overall winner received a cash prize of one million naira, while the second and third-place winners were awarded seven hundred thousand naira and five hundred thousand naira.
Speaking on behalf of Arewa Radio, Corporate Communications representative Esther Isiaka says the “Muhawara” debate competition is designed to push students beyond classroom learning and prepare them for future leadership roles.
She explained that the initiative, now in its second edition in Kano after debuting in November 2025, was inspired by a similar programme run by Cool FM and Wazobia FM across cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.
According to her, the debate format is unique, with participants only learning whether they will argue for or against a motion upon entering the studio an approach designed to build critical thinking, broad reading habits, and quick reasoning skills.
She added that contestants are assessed individually based on eloquence, presentation style, and rebuttal ability, rather than the schools they represent, with organisers emphasizing intellectual growth and active youth engagement in societal discourse.
Also speaking, the Marketing Officer of A.A Rano Rice Mill, Zainab Abdulmalik, described education as the bedrock of every meaningful society and stressed the importance of supporting initiatives that promote academic excellence and youth development.
Similarly, Aliyu Yahaya of Mudasir and Brothers said the debate competition was highly productive as it helped to nurture creativity and confidence among students.
According to him, many students had already expressed interest in participating in future editions of the competition, not only for the prizes but also to demonstrate their competence to teachers and parents.
In his remarks, Kano state commissioner for education Dr Ali Haruna Makoda represented the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Bashir Baffa Muhammad, described the annual debate competition as timely and impactful, noting that it would go a long way in boosting students’ morale and uplifting education to global standards.
While commending Arewa Radio and other sponsors for the initiative, he added that the Kano State Government would continue to provide the necessary support for such initiatives, in line with the policies of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.