Abia students win big, emerge best international team in 2026 Qatar debate championship

Abia State, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR, has once again placed Nigeria on the global map of Excellence as Team Abia, representing Nigeria, emerged as overall champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar.

The Abia contingent, made up of students from public schools, won four major trophies and 12 laurels, beating six countries to clinch the tournament’s biggest prize: Best International School Debate Team.

The 2026 edition, coordinated by Vocara Institute and hosted by the prestigious QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University, Doha, brought together over 84 groups from 8 countries. The QatarDebate Centre, founded by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development in 2008, is Qatar’s national debating organisation.

Team Nigeria, presented by the Presidential School Debate Nigeria and fully represented by Abia public school students, competed against Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines, Kenya and others.

The team, led by the Executive Chairman, Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Amb. Lydia Ezihe Onuoha and representatives of the Presidency, Presidential School Debate Nigeria, comprised:
Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.

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, represented by Abia Public School students, carted home:
1.⁠ ⁠Best International School Debate Team – The Biggest Award of the Tournament
2.⁠ ⁠Overall Best Team – Junior Category
3.⁠ ⁠Best Leadership Award
4.⁠ ⁠Best Debater Award
5.⁠ ⁠12 Laurels for outstanding performance

This historic victory has once again demonstrated the strength of Abia’s new education model under His Excellency, Dr Alex C. Otti and the intellectual capacity of students in Abia public schools.

The Abia debate team undoubtedly has made Abia and Nigeria proud.