This list was compiled in conjunction with The Literary and Debating Society, UI
It’s official, the biggest event in the University of Ibadan is less than an hour away and as usual tension has started building up and supporters have started making predictions on likely winners.
Well, you still have to attend every day of the competition to see how it unfolds. But the hottest question is: Who are the top speakers participating in this year’s tournament?
We have gone far and wide to bring to you a comprehensive list of top speakers to expect at Jaw War 2024. This list was created based on the following:
– Number of awards/appearances made by the speaker.
– Level of delivery in previous tournaments.
– Popularity and influence in UI’s public speaking space.
So, join us, as we unveil their identities.
20. Sakeenah Kareem
Sakeenah Kareem is a 300 level student of Communication and Language Arts. She is a member of the Faculty of Art L&D. She was the former speech coach of the L&D and the current vice-president of Art L&D. She represented her faculty at Jaw War 2024 and Tech Bilaterals 2024.She was the co-winner at the OAU MSSN Inter-varsity contest and best speaker at UI MSSN Inter-varsity debate 2024. She was a co-winner at the Lead City inter-varsity debate 2024.
19. Babatimehin Asiwaju
Babatimehin Asiwaju is a member of the Faculty of Technology and Sultan Bello Hall literary and debating society. Babatimehin Àṣíwájú is a member of the Sultan Bello Hall and Faculty of Technology Literary and Debating Society. He is the current Captain of the Dynamite Squad, Sultan Bello Hall LnD, and doubles as the Speech coach for Tech LnD. He is the recipient of the Awo hall freshers Interhall oratory competition, the 1st runner-up, Best Speaker award, Bello bilaterals 2022/2023 and 1st runner-up, Best Speaker awards,Tech Bilaterals. He was a member of the winning team of the Jaw War 2024 Faculty category where he represented the Faculty of Technology in the first round.
18. Anita Babs
Anita Babs is a captivating and articulate public speaker, currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Ibadan. Anita’s public speaking journey began in her primary school days, and her university speaking career took off in her first year at the University of Ibadan. She has since risen through the ranks to become a two-time President of the Queen Elizabeth II Hall Literary and Debating Society. Notably, she made her debut at Jaw War in 2023, showcasing her exceptional speaking skills.
17. Simisola Afolabi
Simisola Afolabi is currently the Commander of the Vocal Knights, Faculty of Agriculture and the editor-in-chief of Queen Elizabeth II press.She has represented her department and faculty in various competitions in and outside of UI. Simisola has appeared on Jaw War stage and recently competed in the 2024 Lanre Bello inter-faculty debate. In the last jaw war, she represented agriculture and co-won against clinical sciences.
16. Adewunmi Obisesan
Adewumi Obisesan, a 300-level Economics student in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, is a distinguished leader and orator. She is the current President of the Obafemi Awolowo Hall Literary and Debating Society, having previously served as Speech Coach. In the Nigerian Economics Students Association (NESA), she was General Secretary last session and now serves as Speech Coach. Adewumi’s accolades include winning the Lanre Bello Interfaculty Debate (Oratory Category, 2022) and Best Speaker in the preliminaries of the Asido Oratory Contest.
15. Lilian Osunwa
Meet Lilian Chinedu Osunwa, a 300L Nursing student who doubles as the Vice President and Assistant Speech Coach of the Obafemi Awolowo Hall and the Faculty of Nursing Literary and Debating Society respectively. With her powerful voice and electrifying delivery style, Lilian has distinguished herself as a captivating public speaker and writer. Her impressive track record includes, but not limited to, Winner, Rookie of the Year award, Jaw War 2022, Winner, Faculty of Nursing FOC Oratory contest 2023, 2nd runner-up, Olubusade Olamilekan Memorial Essay competition, among other notable achievements.
14. Joshua Abidoye
Abidoye Joshua is a public speaker from the University of Ibadan, who has had the privilege of gracing the stage at the prestigious Jaw War competition for two seasons, He also represented his constituency at the finals of the last edition of Jaw war. He was a 1st runner-up co-winner at the Jubril Dotun Sanusi Inter-campus debate. He is the current vice-president of Kuti Hall L&D.
13. Yahya Dorcas
Yahya Dorcas Anuoluwa is a final year student of the Department of Political Science. She currently serves as the General Secretary for the Faculty of the Social Sciences Literary and Debating Society, and also, the Public Relations Officer for the Queen Idia Hall Literary and Debating Society. At her debut at Jaw War 2024, she won the best speaker title for the hall preliminary round. After taking her faculty to the final round of the tournament, she emerged as the Most outstanding speaker for Jaw War 2024.
12. Tijani Abdulkabeer
Abdulkabeer is a fourth-year student in the department of History. He is a member of both the Faculty of Arts and Nnamdi Azikwe Literary and Debating Society. He has represented both constituencies in multiple public speaking competitions. In 2023, he emerged co-winner and the Best Speaker at Word War IV of Lord Tedder Literary & Debating Society. He was a semi-finalist at Jaw war 2024 and a part of the Nnamdi Azikwe’s Jaw War 2024 championship-winning team. He was the Vice-President of Nnamdi Azikiwe Literary & Debating Society and currently the Editor-In-Chief of the Union of Campus Journalists.
11. Daniel Mojoyinoluwa
Okikiola Daniel Mojoyinola is a 300-level student of the Department of Wood and Biomaterials Engineering, Faculty of Technology. He currently serves as the Lieutenant General of the Sultan Bello Hall Literary and Debating Society, the General Secretary of the Technology and Engineering Students Association, and its Literary and Debating Society.
He debuted at the Bello Bilaterals 2023, where he was Second Runner-Up for Best Speaker and in the quarterfinals of Jaw War 2023 where he emerged as the second Runner-Up Jaw War Rookie Oratory. He also earned the title of Overall Best Speaker at the Sultan Bello Hall Induction Ceremony 2023.In 2024, he achieved further acclaim by winning the Verbal Vortex Debate during the International Adolescent Health Week and securing the First Runner-Up position for Best Debater at Armory of Words ’24. He was also part of the Faculty of Technology’s Jaw War 2024 championship-winning team and was crowned Overall Best Speaker at Tech Bilaterals 2024.
10. Omobobola James
Bobola is the current President of social science and Tedder Literary and Debating society. He has represented both constituencies and the institution on several occasions. Bobola is a familiar speaker at Jaw War and was the 2nd runner-up at UI nationals, Jaw war final 2024. Omobobola James AKANDE is a final-year student of Political Science, who currently heads the literary and debating societies of Faculty of the Social Sciences and Lord Tedder Hall. He was the vice president of FATSSSA L&D, where he, with skilled speakers, led his faculty to the finals of Jawwar 2024. He represented the University at the Nationals, where he emerged second-runner up, and was nominated as overall best speaker.
9. Adebayo Abdulrahman
Abdulrahman is a 400-level student of the Department of Political Science. He is a member of the Great Independence Hall and Faculty of Social Science Literary and Debating Society. He was winner of the LASU National Intervarsity Debate Championship 2022 and Redeemers University Intervarsity Debate Competition 2021. More recently, he emerged second runner-up at the All Nigerian Universities Debate Championship in Abuja. He was a past Vice-President of TLDS, former Editor-in-chief of the Union of Campus Journalists, and current BP captain. Abdurrahman was a 2024 jaw war finalist.
8. Eriomala John
John is a fourth-year medical student. He is the President of the Great Independence Hall Literary and Debating Society. He has represented the hall at multiple competitions, including the 2022 Lord Tedder Hall King of The Podium, where he emerged winner. In 2021, he was the winner of the Barrister Adebowale Debate Competition and first-runner up at the Jaw-War Rookie Oratory Contest. He is the current Editor-in-Chief(Preclinicals) of the UIMSA Press and Entertainment Editor for the Union of Campus Journalists.
7. Folusho Olu-Adegbola
Folusho Olu-Adegbola is a 5th-year medical student and currently serves as the General Secretary of the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association. With a strong passion for public speaking, Folusho has achieved notable recognition in various competitions. He was a semifinalist at Jaw War 2024 and was nominated as the Most Outstanding Speaker.In addition to his role as General Secretary, Folusho is the Vice President of the Alexander Brown Hall Literary and Debating Society, where he actively contributes to promoting literary engagement and debate among its members. His commitment to excellence was further demonstrated when he secured the first runner-up position at the 2024 Lanre Bello Inter-Faculty Debate Competition.
6. Morakinyo Temidayo
Temidayo Morakinyo, popularly known as PHILDEE, is a final-year student in the Department of Communication and Language Arts. He currently serves as the President of the Ransome Kuti Hall Literary and Debating Society and the Public Relations Officer for the Faculty of Arts Literary and Debating Society. In 2022, Temidayo showcased his talent by representing the Faculty of Arts Literary and Debating Society at the prestigious TECH BILATERALS and won his round. The following year, he made an impressive debut at Jaw War, competing in two rounds and securing victories in both. He further distinguished himself by representing his hall at the Bello Bilaterals, where he earned yet another win. In 2024, Temidayo continued his streak of excellence by representing Kuti Hall at Jaw War during the first round and the semifinals, achieving triumph in both stages.
5. Oyedijo, Olanrewaju Segun
Olanrewaju is a 400-level student of the department of Forest Production and Products. He is a member of the literary and debating societies of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources and Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall. He is the current president of the RNR’S L&D. He has represented and won awards with his hall and faculty on various occasions. Some of such are: Co-winner of National Orientation Agency south-west regional debate.
4. Patrick Amaechi Okelue
Amaechi Patrick OKELUE is a 500 Level student of the Faculty of Dentistry. He is a member of the Alexander Brown Hall Literary and Debating Society where he doubles as the Team Lead of House Luther and the Dentistry coordinator. As Team Lead, his House currently tops as the best in the Society winning back to back in-house debate sessions.He represented the Faculty of Dentistry at the Quarter Finals of the earlier 2024 edition of Jaw War against the Faculty of The Social Sciences. More recently, he also represented his Faculty at the Debate Category of the 2024 JCINUI Lanre Bello Inter-Faculty Debate Competition where he emerged as the Best Debater and overall Winner of the competition with his Oratory speaker.
3. Adigun Mary Bukola
Mary is a 400-level student of the Department of Theatre Arts. She was the former President of The Obafemi Awolowo Hall Literary and Debating Society and the current President of the Faculty of Arts Literary and Debating Society. Known for her fierce and powerful delivery, She emerged as the first female winner of the Public Speaking round at the 10th edition of the All Nigerian Universities Debate Championship held in Abuja in September 2023. She was also nominated as best female speaker of Jaw war Tournament in 2023 and 2024.
2. Idowu Ademola
Ademola is a 400 level student of the Faculty of Law. He is a member of the Lord Tedder Hall Literary and Debating Society and the Faculty of Law Literary and Debating Society. He also got a Best Speaker Award, and finished as the Overall Best Speaker at Tedder Hall Bilaterals Debate, 2023. In Nov 2023, He clinched the Overall Best Speaker Award, at Tech Bilaterals Debate. He was the 2nd runnerup at the 2024 Lanre Bello Inter-faculty debate.
- Chineke Ugochukwu
Ugo is a 500 level Law Student. He is a member of both Sultan Bello Hall and Law LND. He was Best International Speaker at Singapore 2016 (African-Asia Debate Championship). He was also a finalist at Super Bowl Oratory Competition 2019. Chineke is known for his powerful delivery. He was the Co-winner of National Orientation Agency south-west regional debate. He was the former president of the faculty of law literary & debating society.
