Students from public schools in Abia State, representing Nigeria, have won top honours at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship held in Doha, Qatar.

The team secured four major trophies and 12 laurels after competing against teams from six countries, including the overall Best International School Debate Team award, described as the highest prize at the championship.

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

The 2026 championship was coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University in Doha. The competition 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.

Representing Nigeria through Presidential School Debate Nigeria, the Abia students competed against teams from countries including Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines and Kenya.

The delegation 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 student team comprised Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.

The Nigerian team progressed through the preliminary stages before advancing to the final after overcoming competition from teams representing the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar.

At the conclusion of the championship, the Abia students received the Best International School Debate Team award. They also earned the Overall Best Team award in the Junior Category, Best Leadership Award and Best Debater Award, in addition to 12 laurels for outstanding performances.

Reacting to the achievement, Governor Otti’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Ukoha, said the result reflected the performance of students in Abia’s public schools and what he described as the impact of the state’s new education model.

“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,” Ukoha said.

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, also expressed satisfaction with the students’ performance, describing the result 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.

He disclosed that the state government would host and celebrate the students upon their return to Abia, adding that they were not the only students from the state who had recorded notable achievements in competitions.

According to the commissioner, another Abia student recently emerged winner of the national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

Ubochi said the government was waiting for the return of the various contingents before organising an event to celebrate students who had represented the state in different competitions.

“We have a lot of them. One student won the national essay competition organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) nationally. So we have a handful of them that we’re going to celebrate,” he said.