Vetland Senior Grammar School Wins Close Debate Against Great Solid Rock College

Vetland Senior Grammar School, Lagos, has defeated Great Solid Rock College, Lagos, in a closely contested Group B debate on day four of the I Beg to Differ Secondary School Debate – Tournament of Champions, 2026.

The two schools debated the motion: “State Police Will Improve National Security.”

Great Solid Rock College, represented by Obagade Johnson and Anyadiegwu Faith, argued that state police would bring security closer to communities, improve response to emergencies and strengthen local intelligence.

The team also maintained that a single federal policing structure is overstretched and cannot adequately respond to the different security challenges across Nigeria’s 36 states.

Opposing the motion, Vetland Senior Grammar School’s Popoola Mary Oyinkansola and Olagaju Hephzibah Oluwajomiloju argued that creating state police could expose the system to political interference and abuse by state authorities.

They said Nigeria’s security challenges require better funding, technology, intelligence and accountability rather than another layer of policing.

The debate went down to the wire, with the judges giving Vetland a narrow advantage before the audience vote widened the gap.

On the judges’ scorecards, Vetland finished with 66.5 points against Great Solid Rock’s 64.5 before the audience vote was added.

The audience vote went 54% to Vetland and 46% to Great Solid Rock, helping to widen the final margin and hand Vetland the victory.

The result moves Vetland Senior Grammar School to the top of Group B with six points, while Great Solid Rock College remains second with three points.

The final score was 71.9 points for Vetland Senior Grammar School and 69.1 for Great Solid Rock College, giving Vetland a unanimous decision victory.

The result moves Vetland to the top of Group B with six points, while Great Solid Rock College remains second with three points.

The adjudicators also praised both teams but cautioned the debaters against using examples and analogies that could unintentionally weaken their arguments.

They urged the students to remain clear about what their side of the debate is required to prove and to ensure that their proposed alternatives directly address the problems raised during the debate.

The I Beg To Differ Tournament of Champions continues with more debates as the competing schools battle for a place in the next stage.