KHAIRUN hosts debate to revive intellectual culture, mentorship
In a groundbreaking event aimed at reviving a culture of intellectual engagement and mentorship among youth, D-E-E-D-S Dialogue Debate International hosted a landmark debate at Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano, drawing a large crowd of young attendees and educational leaders.
Speaking at the event on Saturday in Kano, the president of the organization, Khalid Imam, described the occasion as historic and emphasized its core mission: to counter negative influences on social media by promoting education, critical thinking, and logical reasoning through public discourse.
“We live in a time when content that contradicts our culture and religious values is widespread online,” Imam stated.
“We believe we cannot remain passive. Our contribution is to introduce content that uplifts, educates, and inspires.”
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Imam revealed that the initiative began with the training of 50 secondary school teachers in Kano, as part of a broader effort to integrate structured debate into the education system and to build a strong intellectual foundation for students. “The future belongs to young people,” he said. “And we will have no future unless they are properly educated.”
He further acknowledged the vital support of key partners in making the event a reality. Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University provided the venue, while CITAD offered technical assistance and broadcast the event live to a wider audience.
The debate topic was “Books vs. Screens: Has the Digital Age Killed the Love for Reading?”
The debaters were Dr. Bala Muhammad from the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, and Professor Ibrahim Bello Kano from the Department of English and Literary Studies, BUK. The event attracted intellectuals from Kano and beyond.
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of KHAIRUN, Professor Abdulrashid Garba, represented by Bilal Dahiru Tijjani, Acting Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing Directorate—reaffirmed the university’s commitment to advancing education in Kano and across Nigeria.
“KHAIRUN is always ready to contribute to educational excellence and enrichment,” he said, adding that the university boasts a robust and standard academic system.
Professor Garba expressed appreciation for selecting KHAIRUN as the host of the event and looked forward to a meaningful and lasting collaboration with D-E-E-D-S in nurturing future leaders.
In his remarks, the event’s moderator, Professor Abdullah Adamu, noted that the debate was the first of its kind in Kano—a bold effort to rekindle the once-vibrant culture of intellectual debate that thrived in Northern Nigeria during the 1960s to early 1980s.
He also expressed gratitude to KHAIRUN for hosting the event. “Many people assume KHAIRUN is merely an Islamic school, but it’s not. As a member of the governing council, I can say that gatherings like this show that KHAIRUN stands for both moral and academic excellence,” he concluded.
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