Trainees from public schools in Abia State, representing Nigeria, have emerged general champs at the 2026 International Schools Argument Championship in Doha, Qatar.
The group protected four major trophies and 12 laurels after completing against students from a number of countries to win the Best International School Argument Group award, referred to as the greatest reward of the champion.
The accomplishment was divulged in a declaration by the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Ukoha Ukoha, on Sunday.
Team Nigeria victories in Doha
The 2026 International Schools Argument Champion was collaborated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University, Doha.
The competition brought together more than 84 groups from eight nations, with Team Nigeria competing against students from Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines, Kenya and other countries.
The Nigerian group was presented by Presidential School Debate Nigeria and was made up entirely of students from public schools in Abia State.
The team was led by the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Amb. Lydia Onuoha, along with agents of the Presidency and Presidential School Argument Nigeria.
The 5 trainees who represented Nigeria were Christian Chinweotitom Esther, Chikodi Maureen, Akamnonu Franklin, Ifeanyichukwu Prisca and Simon Divine.
Students safe and secure 4 significant awards
The team progressed through the preliminary rounds after defeating or edging out groups from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar to reach the finals.
At the conclusion of the championship, Team Nigeria won the Best International School Argument Group award.
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The students likewise secured the Total Best Team award in the Junior Category, the Best Management Award and the Best Debater Award, in addition to 12 laurels for impressive performances during the competitors.
The QatarDebate Centre, established by the Qatar Structure for Education, Science and Neighborhood Advancement in 2008, acts as Qatar’s national discussing organisation.
Abia government celebrates achievement
Reacting to the accomplishment, Ukoha explained the victory as evidence of the intellectual capability of students in Abia public schools and an indication of the impact of the state’s education reforms.
“This historic victory has as soon as again demonstrated the strength of Abia’s brand-new education design under Gov. Alex Otti and the intellectual capacity of trainees in Abia public schools. The Abia Debate Group has actually made Abia and Nigeria proud,” he stated.
The Commissioner for Basic Education, Senior Citizen Goodluck Ubochi, also revealed satisfaction with the trainees’ efficiency, explaining the achievement as an indicator that the state’s efforts to transform the education sector were yielding outcomes.
“We feel elated now. What we are doing is that we are transforming the instructional sector, and this result now is among the expectations, and they are indicators that what we are doing is working,” Ubochi stated.
Students to be honoured on return
Ubochi stated the state federal government would host and celebrate the trainees after their return from Qatar.
He kept in mind that the debate group was not the only group of Abia students to tape-record notable achievements in scholastic competitors.
According to him, another student from the state recently won a nationwide essay competition arranged by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools.
“We have a lot of them. One student won the national essay competition arranged by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) nationally. So we have a handful of them that we’re going to commemorate,” he said.
The commissioner said the federal government was awaiting the return of the students before organising a ceremony to commemorate them along with other Abia contingents who have represented the state successfully in various competitions.
The success positions the Abia public school students on an international academic platform and highlights their efficiency in debate, leadership and public speaking while representing Nigeria at the competition in Doha.