UADS wins NADS World No Tobacco Day Debate.

On May 31st, every year since 1989, the world marks World No Tobacco Day, a global campaign aimed at reducing the widespread use of tobacco products. The Nigerian Association of Dental Students has a series of events planned to celebrate the campaign for the year 2026. One of the events planned was an interdental school British parliamentary style debate competition which was held virtually between May 8th and May 23rd. There were dental student associations from eight universities involved in the competition: the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Lagos, Lagos State University, University of Port-Harcourt, Afe-Babalola University, University of Benin, and Bayero University. 

The semifinals were held on May 8th. There were four houses in two rooms, as is the style of British Parliamentary debate. UADS speakers: Gbadebo Iman and Nasirudeen Abdulateef were the Opening Opposition for Room 2, with the motion: "This house believes that increased tobacco taxation is more effective than public education campaigns in reducing tobacco consumption", going against IFUDSA, BUDENSA and ABUDSA. 

For the finals which were held on the 23rd, BUDSA, ULADS, IFUDSA and UADS debated on the motion "This house supports the widespread implementation of unconditional safe supply programs for severely addicted individuals". UADS was Closing Opposition. The speakers mentioned feeling quite terrified, especially after the Opening Opposition, ULADS, had mentioned quite a few of the points they had hoped to bring up. The debate began at 4pm and the results were out later the same day. UADS clinched a win against eloquent ULADS, IFUDSA, and all the other schools. 

The National Association of Dental Students campaign for the World No Tobacco Day wraps up in grand style here in Ibadan, between the 29th and 31st of May. 

Salami Wisdom