Manado, November 27, 2025 – The 2025 North Sulawesi Student Debate League (LDM SULUT) was successfully held on November 26-27, 2025, at the Luwansa Hotel and Convention Center in Manado. This prestigious debate event marked a historic milestone as the first official student debate competition in North Sulawesi held throughout 2025, born from a strategic collaboration between the Student Executive Board (BEM) of Sam Ratulangi University and the Student Executive Board (BEM) of Manado State University.
The competition featured a visionary theme: “Weaving the Future of the Blue and Green Economy: The Role of North Sulawesi Students in Realizing Sustainable Development,” inviting participants to examine the role of the younger generation in driving environmentally and marine-focused development. The significance of this event was further underscored when the Governor of North Sulawesi, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yulius Selvanus, S.E., attended in person on the second day during the elimination round, as a tangible demonstration of the local government’s support for the intellectual development of students.
UNIMA Sends More Than 20 Delegates
Manado State University fielded a strong delegation consisting of more than 20 individuals, both as participants and independent judges, all of whom are active members of the UNIMA English Debating Society (EDS UNIMA). Five of them were from the Faculty of Engineering: Andrit Dien, Serah Zalukhu, and Brandon Turangan, who are students in the Department of Information and Communication Technology (PTIK), and Aquino Wenas and Brayen Walandouw, students in the Computer Engineering program. This demonstrates that a culture of critical and argumentative thinking is thriving across the fields of science and technology.
Accendio Team Advances to the Quarterfinals
The most outstanding performance came from the pair of Andrit Dien and Serah Zalukhu, who are part of the Accendio team. The two successfully advanced through three preliminary rounds and moved on to the quarterfinals a proud achievement amidst fierce competition among universities across North Sulawesi. Three other delegates from the Faculty of Engineering Brayen Walandouw, Aquino Wenas, and Brandon Turangan, also completed all preliminary rounds with equally impressive performances.
LDM SULUT 2025 is not merely a competition but a catalyst for the birth of a new tradition within the North Sulawesi student debate ecosystem. With the support of the provincial government and cross-campus collaboration, this event is expected to become a regular fixture that continues to nurture young, critical thinkers from the land of Nyiur Melambai.
