ABIA STUDENTS EMERGE OVERALL CHAMPIONS AT INTERNATIONAL DEBATE IN QATAR
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
Students from public schools in Abia State, representing Nigeria, have emerged overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship held in Doha, Qatar.
Team Nigeria secured four major trophies and 12 laurels after competing against teams from six countries to win the tournament’s top prize, the Best International School Debate Team award.
The feat was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Ukoha Ukoha.
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The 2026 championship, coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University, Doha, featured more than 84 teams from eight countries.
Team Nigeria, presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and made up entirely of students from Abia public schools, competed against teams from Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines, Kenya and other countries.
The team, 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, comprised Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.
The students advanced through the preliminary rounds, defeating teams from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar to secure a place in the finals.
At the end of the competition, Team Nigeria won the Best International School Debate Team award, described as the highest prize of the championship.
The team also received the Overall Best Team – Junior Category, Best Leadership Award and Best Debater Award, in addition to 12 individual and team laurels for outstanding performances.
Reacting to the achievement, Ukoha said the victory demonstrated the strength of the state’s education reforms under Governor Otti and the intellectual potential of students in Abia 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. The Abia Debate Team has made Abia and Nigeria proud,” he said.
The Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, also expressed delight over the achievement, saying it was evidence that the state’s ongoing efforts to transform the education sector 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, and they are indicators that what we are doing is working,” Ubochi said.
He added that the state government would organise a special reception to celebrate the students and other Abia contingents who have excelled in various competitions.
Ubochi noted that several other students from the state had also distinguished themselves, including one who won a national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools.
He said the government was awaiting the return of the students before organising a joint celebration for the various winners who had represented Abia State successfully.
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