Honeyland Schools has been crowned champion of the Lagos regionals in the Season Nine 'I Beg to Differ' Debate Tournament. The prestigious event, organised by Nigeria Info FM, concluded with a nail-biting final where Honeyland narrowly defeated Straitgate High School.
A Victory Decided by the Finest Margins
The championship round, held on 25 December 2025, featured a fierce intellectual clash on the motion: “Capitalism is the best system for national development.” After a rigorous exchange of arguments, the judges awarded the win to Honeyland Schools by a razor-thin margin of just 1.5 points. Organisers hailed it as one of the closest finishes in the tournament's history.
In the battle for third place, Heritage Group of Schools secured the second runner-up position. They defeated Great Solid Rock College by a unanimous decision in the bronze medal match, which debated the motion: “Police brutality in Nigeria is primarily a result of systemic failure, not individual misconduct.”
Prizes, Sponsors, and the Road to Nationals
As the regional champion, Honeyland Schools received a cash prize of N5 million along with smartphones for each of its participating students. The successful first leg of the Lagos regionals was made possible by lead sponsor GZ Industries, with additional backing from Fina Trust Microfinance Bank, Obiwezy Gadgets, and Multiplan Pathway College.
The top three schools have now earned their tickets to the national stage. They will compete in the national tournament of champions, which is scheduled for August 2026. There, they will face the best debate teams from across Nigeria.
Qualified Teams for the 2026 National Tournament
The schools moving forward from the Lagos regionals are:
- Winner: Honeyland Schools
- First Runner-up: Straitgate High School
- Second Runner-up: Heritage Group of Schools
This edition of the 'I Beg to Differ' tournament, bolstered by its partners, has been celebrated as one of the most competitive yet, showcasing the exceptional talent and persuasive skills of Nigerian secondary school students.
