Students from public schools in Abia State, representing Nigeria, have emerged as overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar. The team won four major trophies and 12 laurels after competing against students from six countries to clinch the biggest prize of the tournament, the Best International School Debate Team award.
The 2026 edition, coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University, Doha, brought together over 84 groups from eight countries. The QatarDebate Centre, founded by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development in 2008, is Qatar’s national debating organisation. Team Nigeria comprised students from Abia public schools, led by the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Amb. Lydia Onuoha.
The team, presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria, included Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca, and Simon Divine. They competed against teams from Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines, Kenya, and others. The team scaled through the preliminary rounds, edging out students from the Philippines, Jordan, India, and Qatar to reach the finals.
At the end of the championship, Team Nigeria won the Best International School Debate Team award, described as the biggest award of the tournament. Other awards won by the team included Overall Best Team – Junior Category, Best Leadership Award, Best Debater Award, and 12 laurels for outstanding performance.
Reacting to the victory, Ukoha, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, said the historic win demonstrated the strength of Abia’s new education model and the intellectual capacity of students in Abia public schools. The Abia Debate Team has made Abia and Nigeria proud, according to Ukoha.
The state Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, expressed elation at the outcome, saying it was an indicator that the efforts to transform the educational sector in Abia were working. He mentioned plans to celebrate the victors, including the debate team, upon their return, and noted that there were other students who had also won competitions.
The students' victory has been hailed as a testament to the effectiveness of Abia's education reforms under Governor Alex Otti. Plans are underway to celebrate their achievement upon their return. The Commissioner for Basic Education noted that several other students from the state had also won national competitions, and they would be celebrated together.
Key points
- - Abia State students won four major trophies and 12 laurels at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar. - The team, led by Amb. Lydia Onuoha, comprised students from Abia public schools, including Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca, and Simon Divine. - The victory has been attributed to the strength of Abia’s new education model under Governor Alex Otti.
