Ecstasy has enveloped the Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, following the feat recorded by its Faculty of Law, which emerged winner at the 6th edition of the just concluded International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition which was held at Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo.
The five-day competition which was hosted by LASU and organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had the contenders go through the intense preliminaries-debates and mock trials presided over by the panel of judges.
Benson Idahosa University emerged victorious amidst stiff competition from nine other universities, which included, Lagos State University (LASU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Bayero University Kano (BUK), University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), University of Uyo (UNIUYO), River State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), and University of Jos (UNIJOS).
The faculty of law, BIU was represented by, Iheaturu Jane (500L Law student), Osike Edward (500L Law student) and Babajide Love (500L Law student), who proved their superiority over their OAU counterpart during the intellectual scuffle.
After an intensive display of knowledge and understanding of international humanitarian Law by the representatives from Faculties of Law represented at the competition, Benson Idahosa University was unanimously declared winner of the contest.
Narrating how they won the competition, one of the contestants, Iheaturu Jane said that they faced a lot of challenges before and during the competitions.
Iheaturu said: “We faced a lot of challenges, we missed our way, got stuck in traffic, and we had to take a bike in order to meet up with the registration deadline.
“On the first day after the opening draw, we felt we had lost hope as we were to compete with Obafemi Awolowo University students, given their performances in competitions.”
But according to her, through the involvement and encouraging words from the President, Bishop F.E.B Idahosa, their souls were lifted which at the long run enhanced performance and they won the first round, the next four rounds to emerge winners.
She further said that their success was 70 percent grace and 30 percent hard work as they already made up their mind to win. To them, even though other schools were good, BIU was a better team.
Osike Edward, the lead speaker of the team, couldn’t curtail his joy.
He said that it was a indeed a great opportunity for him to have represented his school.
On his part, Babajide Love described their achievement as “great”, hailing the organizers for giving them the opportunity to develop their intellects.
Expressing her gratitude to the university management, the coach and Lecturer who led and supervised the team from BIU, Dr (Mrs) T.U Akpoghome said that she was indeed impressed with the brilliant performance of the students.
She further said the competition presents a unique opportunity for students to engage in matters of international humanitarian law, a law she explained is applied during war or armed conflict to protect those who are no longer fighting.
It would be recalled that Benson Idahosa University had previously been a first runner up at the edition held at the University’s Campus in 2012.
She further said that she feels fulfilled and elated as she was the pioneer lecturer in the course which was inaugurated in the faculty in 2009.
Reacting to the feat, the President, Benson Idahosa University, Bishop F.E.B Idahosa however thanked the great ambassadors for taking the name of the university to greater heights, saying that he was very much proud of them.
“We have now arranged a Presidential Banquet for them with the Vice Chancellor and Management along with my wife,” he said
As National champions, the BIU team will represent Nigeria at the Africa moot court competition in Arusha, Tanzania later in the year.
The event rounded off with the presentation of gifts to the representat
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