By Mamajah Jalloh
A second-year student at the University of Makeni (UNIMAK), Wilson Mondeh, has emerged winner of the Lord of the Stage (LOTS) Public Speaking Championship, walking away with a cash prize of Le10,000, during the grand finale held on Saturday, 31 January 2026, at the YWCA New Hall in Freetown.
Lord of the Stage is a premier initiative designed to empower individuals to command the stage, offering a high-profile platform for public speaking, debating, poetry, and other educational activities. The initiative aims to help participants articulate their thoughts and ideas with clarity, confidence, and precision, while redefining standards of modern expression and educational excellence.
Speaking at the event, Convener of the competition, Steven Thomas, said the initiative was created to nurture young talent in Sierra Leone, enabling participants to express themselves powerfully and confidently. He explained that the competition promotes education and seeks to reshape public perceptions about learning.
Thomas described the selection process as rigorous and transparent, revealing that 79 students applied, 63 were approved, 40 were shortlisted, 36 qualified, and 20 contestants advanced to the final stage. He added that participation was free and open to individuals aged 18 to 40 years.
One of the judges, Augustine Bona, advised participants to improve their stage presence and delivery, cautioning against excessive reliance on written notes, which he said could disrupt focus. He emphasized that impromptu speaking is a vital skill in modern public speaking.
Speaking to journalists after the competition, Mondeh attributed his victory to persistence, discipline, and self-belief. He disclosed that he had missed two weeks of lectures to prepare for the competition, despite initially doubting his abilities.
“I stayed with friends to rehearse ahead of the final. Although I was supposed to return to Makeni days before the event, I chose to remain focused and concentrate,” he said.
Mondeh revealed that he was initially ranked 16th during the audition stage, but judges highlighted areas for improvement, which he deliberately worked on—efforts that ultimately secured him the championship.
He encouraged young people to believe in their potential, urging them to confront perceived barriers to success with determination. Mondeh also pledged to use his platform to advocate for the voiceless and support individuals who lack opportunities to express themselves.
The young champion disclosed that he intends to use the Le10,000 prize money to pay his university fees and expressed his ambition to compete in larger public speaking championships in the future.
