Students from public schools in Abia State have secured international recognition after emerging overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Representing Nigeria, the five-member team won the Best International School Debate Team award, described as the biggest prize of the competition, after competing against teams from several countries.
The students also won four major trophies and 12 laurels at the championship, which featured more than 84 groups from eight countries.
The competition was coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University, Doha.
Team Nigeria, presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and made up entirely of Abia public school students, competed against teams from Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines, Kenya and other countries.
The team comprised Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.
Led by the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Amb. Lydia Onuoha, alongside representatives of the Presidency and Presidential School Debate Nigeria, the students progressed through the preliminary rounds before reaching the final.
They defeated competitors from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar on their way to the final.
Apart from the Best International School Debate Team award, the Abia students won Overall Best Team in the Junior Category, Best Leadership Award and Best Debater Award, alongside 12 laurels for outstanding performances.
Reacting to the feat, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, Ukoha Ukoha, said the victory demonstrated the capacity of students in the state’s public schools.
“This historic victory has once again demonstrated the strength of Abia’s new education model under Gov. Alex Otti and the intellectual capacity of students in Abia public schools,” Ukoha said.
The Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said the result was an indication that ongoing efforts to improve education in the state were yielding results.
“We feel elated now. What we are doing is that we are transforming the educational sector, and this outcome now is one of the expectations,” Ubochi said.
He added that the state government would organise a ceremony to celebrate the debate team and other students who had distinguished themselves in national and international competitions.
“Let them come back first. When they come back, we are going to host and celebrate them. They are not the only ones,” he said.
Ubochi said another Abia student had also won a national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools.
“We have a handful of them that we’re going to celebrate,” he added.
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