Team Nigeria sweeps awards at Qatar international school debate   

Team Nigeria has been declared overall winners of the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar.

The team won four major trophies and 12 laurels dusting students from six countries to clinch the Best International School Debate Team award.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, Ukoha Ukoha, said students from public schools in Abia State, represented Nigeria.

Eighty-four groups from eight countries participated in the 2026 edition, coordinated by the Vocara Institute and hosted by the QatarDebate Centre at Georgetown University, Doha.

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

Team Nigeria competed against students from Jordan, India, Qatar, the Philippines, Kenya and others.

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

It edged out students from the Philippines, Jordan, India and Qatar to reach the finals.

At the end of the championship, Team Nigeria won the Best International School Debate Team award, described as the biggest award of the tournament.

Other awards won by the team included Overall Best Team – Junior Category, Best Leadership Award, Best Debater Award and 12 laurels for outstanding performance.

Ukoha said: “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.”