Students from public schools in Abia State, representing Nigeria, have emerged overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship held in Doha, Qatar.
The Nigerian team won four major trophies and 12 laurels after competing against students from several countries, securing the tournament’s top prize, the Best International School Debate Team award.
The achievement was disclosed in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, Ukoha Ukoha, on Sunday.
The 2026 championship was coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University, Doha. More than 84 teams from eight countries participated in the competition.
Team Nigeria, presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and made up entirely of students from Abia public schools, competed against teams from countries including Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines and Kenya.
The team was 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 participating students were Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.
The Abia students progressed through the preliminary rounds, defeating teams from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar to qualify for the finals.
At the end of the championship, Team Nigeria won the Best International School Debate Team award, described as the biggest prize of the tournament.
The team also secured the Overall Best Team – Junior Category, Best Leadership Award, Best Debater Award, as well as 12 additional laurels for outstanding performances.
Reacting to the achievement, Ukoha said the victory demonstrated the strength of Abia State’s education reforms and the intellectual abilities of students in the state’s public schools.
He said the debate team had made both Abia State and Nigeria proud.
The state Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, also expressed excitement over the students’ performance, saying the achievement was evidence that the state government’s efforts to transform the education sector were producing results.
Ubochi said the state government would organise a special reception to celebrate the students and other Abia pupils who had distinguished themselves in national and international competitions.
He added that another Abia student had recently won a national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools.
The commissioner said the government planned to celebrate all the students who had represented the state successfully in various competitions.
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