Abia Public School Students Win International Debate Championship in Qatar

Five students from public schools in Abia State have brought international recognition to Nigeria after emerging overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar.

The Nigerian team, made up entirely of Abia public school students, won the competition’s top honour, the Best International School Debate Team award, alongside three other major trophies and 12 additional laurels.

The achievement was announced on Sunday by Ukoha Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

According to the statement, the 2026 championship 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 competition.

Team Nigeria was presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and competed against teams from countries including Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines and Kenya.

The five students who represented Nigeria were Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.

The delegation was led by the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Ambassador Lydia Ezihe Onuoha, alongside representatives of the Presidency and Presidential School Debate Nigeria.

The Abia students progressed through the preliminary rounds after overcoming teams from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar, eventually securing their place in the final stages.

At the conclusion of the championship, Team Nigeria was named Best International School Debate Team, described by the Abia State Government as the biggest award of the tournament.

The team also received the Overall Best Team – Junior Category, Best Leadership Award and Best Debater Award, in addition to 12 other laurels for outstanding performances during the competition.

Reacting to the achievement, Ukoha said the victory demonstrated the intellectual capacity of students in Abia’s public schools and highlighted what he described as the strength of the state’s education reforms under Governor Alex Otti.

“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, adding that the Abia Debate Team had made both the state and Nigeria proud.

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, also welcomed the students’ performance, describing it as an indication that the state’s efforts to transform its education sector were producing results.

Ubochi said the state government planned to host and celebrate the students when they return from Qatar, alongside other Abia students who have distinguished themselves in national and international competitions.

He disclosed that another Abia student had also won a national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

The Qatar achievement gives Abia public school students a prominent place on an international academic platform, particularly because the Nigerian delegation was composed entirely of students from the state’s public school system.

The result also highlights the role of school debating in developing students’ public-speaking, critical-thinking, leadership and argumentation skills.

For the five students, their performance in Doha has turned an international debating competition into a major achievement for Abia State and another notable success for Nigerian students on the global academic stage.