……. Children’s Right to Choose Careers in Maiduguri
By: Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
Amnesty International Nigeria has organized a secondary school debate in Maiduguri, Borno State, bringing together students from selected public and private schools across the city. The event, held at the Muhammadu Buhari International Conference Centre, University of Maiduguri, drew the presence of scholars from the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Communication, including the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri .
The debate is part of a broader effort to promote early awareness of human rights, civic engagement, and constructive dialogue among young people.
Speaking in an interview, Barbara Shidnan Magaji, Programmes Manager at Amnesty International Nigeria, explained that the initiative aims to equip young Nigerians with a deeper understanding of their rights and empower them to serve as ambassadors for human rights in their communities. She emphasized that the debate focuses on issues such as the right to education, the freedom to make informed career choices, and responsible use of technology. “We want students to learn to engage respectfully, to exchange ideas, and to understand the importance of rights and dignity,” she noted, clarifying that Amnesty International did not state figures of children in school in Borno, and any reference to numbers was hypothetical and not official data.
Barbara highlighted that the organisation is deeply concerned about the national challenge of out of school children, as UNICEF statistics show over 20 million Nigerian children currently out of school.
She stressed that platforms like the debate help inspire young people to advocate for their education and future while reinforcing the state and local governments’ responsibility to ensure access to safe and quality learning. Adding that this edition features six schools actively debating, while ten others participate as observers. Government schools were selected in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to ensure fair representation and diversity across girls’, boys’, co-educational, private, and public institutions.
She also reiterated that Amnesty International is fully independent and is funded solely through its partners, no government or external donor sponsors the programme.
The motion for the opening session is: “Children Should Be Free to Choose Their Own Career Paths Without Parental Imposition.” Each school is represented by one debater, delivering an opening argument and rebuttal within allotted time.
Respect, clarity, and confidence are core requirements, with rebuttals expected to address arguments logically, without personal attacks.
Audience prompting, interference, or disorderly conduct is strictly prohibited. Participants may be disqualified for misconduct during or after the debate, including offensive behavior, disruption, or online harassment.
Organizers have emphasized that the objective is to create a safe, inspiring space where young voices can grow, learn, and advocate for a society rooted in fairness, respect, and human dignity.
