Students from public schools in Abia State, representing Nigeria, have emerged as overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship held in Doha, Qatar.

The Nigerian team secured four major trophies and 12 laurels after competing against teams from several countries, including Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines and Kenya.

The achievement was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Ukoha Ukoha.

The competition, coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University in Doha, featured more than 84 groups from eight countries.

The QatarDebate Centre, established in 2008 by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, serves as Qatar’s national debating organisation.

Team Nigeria was presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and was made up entirely of students from Abia public schools. 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 team progressed through the preliminary stages before defeating competitors from countries including the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar to qualify for the final.

At the conclusion of the championship, Team Nigeria received the Best International School Debate Team award, identified as the tournament’s biggest prize.

The students also won the Overall Best Team award in the Junior Category, the Best Leadership Award and the Best Debater Award, in addition to 12 laurels for outstanding performances.

Reacting to the achievement, Abia State Government spokesman Ukoha Ukoha said the result demonstrated the potential 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, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, also expressed satisfaction with the performance, saying the achievement was an indication that the government’s efforts to improve the education sector were producing results.

“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.

He added that the state government would host and celebrate the students after their return from Qatar, noting that they were among several Abia students who had distinguished themselves in academic competitions.

“Let them come back first. When they come back, we are going to host and celebrate them. They are not the only ones. There are others that we are going to unveil by the time we celebrate all our victors together, the winners,” he said.

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

“So we have a handful of them that we’re going to celebrate,” he added, explaining that the government was waiting for the return of the various contingents before organising a joint celebration for students who had represented the state in different competitions.