Students from public schools in Abia State, representing Nigeria, have emerged overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar.
The students won four major trophies and 12 laurels after competing against teams from several countries at the international competition.
The team, presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and made up entirely of students from Abia public schools, won the Best International School Debate Team award, described as the biggest prize of the tournament.
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 competed against students from countries including Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines and Kenya.
The Abia students progressed through the preliminary rounds, defeating teams from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar to secure a place in the final.
At the end of the championship, the team won the Best International School Debate Team award, Overall Best Team in the Junior Category, Best Leadership Award and Best Debater Award, in addition to 12 other laurels.
The team comprised 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 Onuoha, alongside representatives of the Presidency and Presidential School Debate Nigeria.
Reacting to the achievement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Ukoha Ukoha, said the victory demonstrated the intellectual capacity of students in the state’s 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 in Abia State, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, also described the achievement as an indication of progress in the state’s education sector.
“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.
The commissioner said the state government would organise a reception for the students and other Abia pupils who have distinguished themselves in national and international competitions.
He disclosed that an Abia student had also emerged winner of a national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools.
Ubochi said the government was waiting for the various students and contingents to return before organising a joint celebration for those who had represented the state in different competitions.
The QatarDebate Centre, established by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development in 2008, serves as Qatar’s national debating organisation.
The performance of the Abia students adds to a growing list of achievements by Nigerian students in international academic competitions and highlights the role of debating in developing students’ critical thinking, public speaking and communication skills.
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