Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Public school students from Abia State, representing Nigeria, have emerged overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship held in Doha, Qatar.
The Abia team secured the top prize after competing against students from several countries, winning four major trophies and 12 laurels during the international competition.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, October 4, 2026, by Ukoha Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, the Nigerian team won the Best International School Debate Team award, described as the biggest prize of the championship.
The 2026 edition of the competition was coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University in Doha. More than 84 groups from eight countries participated in the championship.
The Nigerian contingent was presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and was made up entirely of public school students from Abia State. The team competed against participants from countries including Jordan, India, Qatar and the Philippines, among others.
The students who represented Nigeria were Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.
The team was led by the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Ambassador Lydia Onuoha, alongside representatives of the Presidency and Presidential School Debate Nigeria.
The students progressed through the preliminary stages of the competition, overcoming teams from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar before reaching the final stages.
Their performance ultimately earned Team Nigeria the Best International School Debate Team award.
The students also secured the Overall Best Team award in the Junior Category, the Best Leadership Award and the Best Debater Award, in addition to 12 individual and team laurels for their performances throughout the championship.
Reacting to the achievement, Ukoha said the victory demonstrated the academic and intellectual abilities of students in Abia's public schools.
He said the achievement had brought recognition to both Abia State and Nigeria, while linking the performance to the state government's ongoing education reforms.
The state Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, also welcomed the result, describing the performance as an indication of progress in the state's education sector.
Ubochi said the government was waiting for the students to return before organising a celebration for them alongside other Abia students who have recently achieved success in national and international competitions.
He added that the debate team was not the only group of students from the state to record notable achievements, noting that another Abia student had won a national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools.
The latest achievement adds to Nigeria's participation in international school debate competitions, which have provided students with opportunities to compete in public speaking, argumentation, critical thinking and teamwork.
The QatarDebate Centre, established by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, promotes debate, dialogue and critical thinking among young people. The centre has also hosted and supported international debate programmes involving students from different countries.
For the Abia students, the competition provided an international platform to test their debating skills against teams from different educational and cultural backgrounds.
Their success also comes at a time when education remains a major part of the Abia State government's stated development agenda. Governor Otti's administration has repeatedly highlighted reforms and investments in the state's public education system.
The students' victory gives further attention to the performance of pupils from the state's public schools, particularly because the Nigerian team was composed entirely of Abia public school students.
The championship also placed the students in competition with participants from countries with established debate programmes, making their progression through the preliminary rounds and eventual success a significant achievement for the contingent.
The outcome was announced on Sunday, October 4, 2026, with state officials saying arrangements would be made to receive and celebrate the students when they return from Qatar.
For Abia, the result represents an international academic achievement by a group of public school students. For Nigeria, it provides another instance of young Nigerians competing successfully on an international educational platform.
The five students, who travelled as Team Nigeria under the Presidential School Debate Nigeria programme, have now returned from the competition with the Best International School Debate Team title, the Overall Best Team award in the Junior Category, the Best Leadership Award, the Best Debater Award and 12 additional laurels.
The achievement is expected to be formally celebrated by the Abia State Government following the team's return, with education officials indicating that the debate winners will be recognised alongside other students who have distinguished themselves in academic competitions.
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