A pioneering inter-university debate platform fostering critical dialogue among African scholars and stakeholders.
Launched in March 2024 with HE John Mahama, former President of Ghana, Africa Debates kicked off with African students from the London School of Economics and King’s College London engaging in riveting and intellectually stimulating debates. Our platform offers a unique lens through which to examine pressing development issues and hot topics, focusing on engaging African students and those interested in Africa’s future. Africa Debates aims to amplify youth voices, engage students, and foster meaningful discourse on pivotal issues central to Africa’s development.
Launched in March 2024 with HE John Mahama, former President of Ghana, Africa Debates kicked off with African students from the London School of Economics and King’s College London
engaging in riveting and intellectually stimulating debates. Our platform offers a unique lens through which to examine pressing development issues and hot topics, focusing on engaging African students and those interested in Africa’s future. Africa Debates aims to amplify youth voices, engage students, and foster meaningful discourse on pivotal issues central to Africa’s development.
To celebrate & promote African culture, intellectual dialogue, and community through vibrant, inclusive events.
To promote the Ubuntu philosophy by facilitating engagement on global challenges.
Encourage critical discussions on African issues, enabling students to develop well-informed perspectives.
Highlight the richness and diversity of African cultures through debates and cultural performances.
Empower participants with public speaking, debate, and leadership skills that will enefit their future endeavors.
Africa Debates, a pan-African inter-university debate platform, offers a unique lens through which to examine pressing development issues.
Structured as a series of team debates and with a focus on engaging African students and those interested in Africa’s future, the devates fosters intellectual exchange and cultivates fresh insights.
By challenging assumptions and exploring diverse perspectives, participants will delve into key questions surrounding development activities in Africa.
Africa Debates, a pan-African inter-university debate platform, offers a unique lens through which to examine pressing development issues.
Structured as a series of team debates and with a focus on engaging African students and those interested in Africa’s future, the devates fosters intellectual exchange and cultivates fresh insights.
By challenging assumptions and exploring diverse perspectives, participants will delve into key questions surrounding development activities in Africa.
Oluwamayowa Ayodele is a former freelance editor and now parish councillor, with bylines in The Voice Newspaper and RedPepper Magazine.
Tosin is an edupreneur, trainer, coach, and culture catalyst. He currently heads the Programme for African Leadership (PfAL) at the London School of Economics.
Adam became Vice-Chancellor in January 2022 after leadership roles at Sussex, Birmingham, Bristol, and Royal Holloway. Trained as an economic geographer at Manchester, his research focuses on finance, regionalism, and economic policy. He recently led a government review to reduce research bureaucracy and serves on the Boards of Universities UK and other public bodies.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham
Adam became Vice-Chancellor in January 2022 after leadership roles at Sussex, Birmingham, Bristol, and Royal Holloway. Trained as an economic geographer at Manchester, his research focuses on finance, regionalism, and
economic policy. He recently led a government review to reduce research bureaucracy and serves on the Boards of Universities UK and other public bodies.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham
Imperial College London & University of Oxford
13:00 – 15:00
Imperial College, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ
London School of Economics (LSE)
London School of Economics (LSE)
Houses of Parliament hosted by Lord Paul Boateng
Students & Academics
Professionals
Law Makers
Business Leaders
Let’s explore sponsorship opportunities!
Prominent logo placement on all event materials, banners, and websites. Feature in all pre-event marketing campaigns, press releases, and media coverage.
Opportunity to display promotional materials at both venues (LSE and the Houses of Parliament).
Invitation to VIP receptions at both the semi-finals and finals, providing direct access to influential leaders, policymakers, and professionals.
Access to top student talent and strategic collaboration across major UK universities.
Prominent logo placement on all event materials, banners, and websites. Feature in all pre-event marketing campaigns, press releases, and media coverage.
Opportunity to display promotional materials at both venues (LSE and the Houses of Parliament).
Invitation to VIP receptions at both the semi-finals and finals, providing direct access to influential leaders, policymakers, and professionals.
Access to top student talent and strategic collaboration across major UK universities.
Inclusive of all events*
Are you passionate about Africa’s development? Join us as a participant or partner in Africa Debates. Together, let’s shape the future of Africa through critical dialogue and innovative ideas.
©2025 – Africa Debates | All Rights Reserved.
EMAIL: talkto@interuniversitydebates.org
EMAIL: talkto@interuniversitydebates.org
©2025 – Africa Debates | All Rights Reserved.
Oluwamayowa Ayodele is a former freelance editor and now parish councillor, with bylines in The Voice Newspaper and RedPepper Magazine.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from Swansea University’s College of Arts and Humanities (COAH), with a dissertation focused on 21st-century populism.
He began his career in political activism and campaigning at Operation Black Vote, where he oversaw the organisation’s editorial output and led data collection on the research project, The Colour of Power.
While with OBV, he contributed to multiple civic leadership programs with local authorities aimed at encouraging minority ethnic engagement with civic and political leadership. He has similarly
contributed to national leadership initiatives such as Pathway to Success and transatlantic initiatives in the form of the German Marshall Fund’s Young Professional Summit.
Having been selected for the BBC’s Future Voices Programme, he produced several reports, including pieces relating to BRIC nation naval drills in South Africa and private investment in the African tech startup ecosystem, and worked on Sunday with Laura Kuenssburg.
He had previously interned at RBC BlueBay Asset Management and the geopolitical consultancy Gatehouse Advisory Partners before moving into fintech.
As well as being passionate about West African political economics and policy development, he is equally invested in initiatives to combat homelessness and better engage local communities.
Tosin is an edupreneur, trainer, coach, and culture catalyst. He currently heads the Programme for African Leadership (PfAL) at the London School of Economics where he co-produces The Climb podcast. Prior to this role he worked as Senior International Lead for Africa and the Middle East at the University of Sussex and was responsible for student recruitment, strategy development, stakeholder engagement, partnerships and business development.
He has over 15 years experience in higher education and provides advisory to institutions on developing sustainable, non-transactional approaches to internationalisation and student experience based on human capacity development, shared value, reciprocity, and knowledge diplomacy. He has been named
among The PIE’s ‘Top 50 Voices of international education in Europe’ in 2023 and is the recipient of two Excellence in Education Awards.
As a former international student, he is passionate about empowering students from diverse backgrounds to access quality education and providing support for them to succeed at university and beyond. Tosin believes that institutions can do more to help every student achieve their full potential.
He co-founded Edukate and Pitch my Dissertation to amplify study and career opportunities for students at home and abroad.
He is an accomplished facilitator and trainer specialising in internationalisation, innovation, student experience, and leadership development.