Antonio Edem Asinyo made history when he was elected as the first Ghanaian to be President of the World’s University Debate Championship (WUDC) Council on Tuesday.
Antonio, an astute debater and coach of the University of Ghana Debate Society, also becomes the first black African to rise to this position within the global debate circuit after 39 years of its existence.
He was elected on January 1, 2019 at the 39th edition of the WUDC currently ongoing in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mr. Asinyo takes over from Nishith Hedge from the University of Edinburgh and shall serve in this capacity during the next world championship to be held in Thailand in 2020.
He will serve a one-year renewable tenure of office, together with other elected world council officers; Mexico’s Julio Meyer as Registrar, Tshiamo Malatjii of South Africa and New Zealand’s Kerrin R-s who will serve as Secretary and Equity Officer respectively.
Their role is to supervise the organization of the next edition of the competition which is arguably the world’s biggest and most prestigious students’ event.
This is not the first time Antonio Edem Asinyo has made Ghana proud with such an international accolade.
A year ago, he was among a four-member team appointed by the International Debating Committee Council to serve on the equity committee of the Championship in Mexico City.
His team’s responsibility was to create a safe environment for the over 1,000 university debaters, adjudicators, observers and volunteers.
They ensured everyone was safe from discrimination, harassment, bullying and vilification, and helped foster equity, inclusion and respect for social and cultural diversity because equity operates during and outside of debates, during meals, socials, accommodation, or any activity run by the championship, be it face to face or online interactions.
What the WUDC is about
The tournament is the world’s largest debating competition and one of the largest annual international student events in the world.
The inaugural championship was hosted by the Glasgow University Union in January 1981, with 43 teams from 7 nations competing.
Since then, it has dramatically grown to an event that hosts over 400 teams representing more than 380 universities from 80 different nations.
Students from the world’s largest universities regularly compete. Dozens of other world’s class institutions send their best students making being crowned ‘World Champion’ one of the most prestigious titles a student can attain.
Antonio’s profile
Antonio has over 5 years of active national and international debating experience.
He is credited with several debating initiatives and reforms.
He has also facilitated several debate workshops for several institutions in Ghana, notable among them being GTUC, UCC, Central, UEW, UPSA, UDS, Tema International School among others, and also coached the Ashesi Debate team.
The national and international award-winning debater was the convener for the 8th Pan African Universities Debate championship hosted by the University of Ghana in 2015.
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By: Nii Larte Lartey | citinewsroom.com |Ghana | [email protected]
