Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has announced ₦1 million cash rewards for each of the five-member Abia contingent that represented Nigeria at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Governor Otti made the announcements on Saturday at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, during the official welcome ceremony for the students, where he also unveiled financial rewards for their school and education officials.
Recall that the outstanding students including; Christian Esther 15, Simon Nduoma 18, Chikodi Nmesooma 15, Akamnonu Chukwuemeka 16 and Ifeanyichukwu Cherechukwu 16, made a landmark achievement at the 2026 international debate championship in Doha, Qatar, securing four trophies and 12 medals after competing against teams from countries including Jordan, Pakistan, India, Kenya, and Ghana.
The Governor who also approved the request by the Debate team to participate in next year’s competition, announced a cash gift of ₦750,000 for each of the three education officials involved in the students’ participation.
He further announced a ₦1 million cash reward for the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), while Abia Model Junior Secondary School, which produced the debating team, will receive ₦1.75 million.
Governor Otti equally announced a ₦1 million reward for Okonkwo Onyinyechi , winner of the 2026 National Essay Championship.
The Governor also directed the Alex Otti Foundation to take over the sponsorship of Miss Esther Christian, Captain of the Debate team, making an exception to its usual undergraduate scholarship programme.
“Because you lost your dad when you were four. Today you have another dad. So, the Alex Otti Foundation takes over your sponsorship.
“We are making an exception. You know, the last Saturday, we inducted 81 undergraduates into the Foundation. Normally they are undergraduates, but we are making an exception to now induct you from senior secondary or earlier”, the Governor announced.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to recognising excellence, adding that celebrating people who distinguished themselves was part of the state’s identity.
Governor Otti congratulated the students, urging them to sustain their commitment to excellence and commended their coaches, school authorities and other stakeholders who contributed to their performance at the international competition.
The Governor expressed confidence that the students could achieve even greater feats, stressing the importance of providing young people with the support and opportunities needed to fulfil their potential.
He said his administration has embarked on renovations and other interventions in schools across the state to restore dilapidated facilities and improve teaching and learning environments across the state.
Governor Otti also disclosed that his administration had approved 21 smart schools, with two completed and handed over and a third expected to be delivered before the end of the year.
He assured residents that the administration would continue to renovate public schools in phases until all institutions requiring attention had been addressed.
The Governor called on individuals, community leaders and other stakeholders to adopt schools in their communities, noting that such community-driven support would complement government efforts to improve public education.
Governor Otti further disclosed that his administration was working to ensure that schools across the state were secured by armed personnel of the Homeland Security outfit to protect pupils and school property.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by the commission’s Abia State Coordinator, Mrs Unyime Umoetti, commended the Otti administration for the remarkable transformation of the state’s education sector over the past three years, citing the recent academic successes recorded by students in Abia’s public schools.
Mrs Umoetti who commended Governor Otti for his visionary leadership and targeted investments in basic education, challenged political office holders and stakeholders to actively engage with grassroots development by visiting their home communities and adopting local schools.
She encouraged the young champions to remain focused, reminding them that the true reward for hard work is the drive to achieve even greater feats.
In her address earlier, the Executive Chairman, Abia State Universal Education Board, (ASUBEB), Mrs Lydia Onuoha said the students public school students made a landmark achievement at the 2026 international debate championship in Doha, Qatar by securing four trophies and 12 medals after competing against teams from countries including Jordan, Pakistan, India, Kenya, and Ghana.
The ASUBEB Chairman announced that the Abia-led Nigerian contingent won the Best International School Debate Team award, the Overall Best Team under the junior category, the Best Debater Award, and the Best Leadership Award, with Akamonu Franklin Chukwuemeka clinching the best speaker award for the finals.
Mrs Onuoha credited the global triumph to the visionary leadership and direct support of Governor Otti, noting that the victory validates the present administration’s 20% budget allocation to education, ongoing school renovations, massive teacher capacity building, and the enforcement of the free and compulsory basic education policy.
Speaking on behalf of the parents, Mr Christopher Akamnonu commended Governor Otti for his education policies and support, pointing out that the team’s success underscored his administration’s commitment to improving education and creating opportunities for students to excel.
In a vote of thanks the Team Captain Miss Esther Christian, said the team competed against 84 teams and 168 debaters, to achieve a historic feat with all five members emerging among the top 10 speakers globally.
She commended Governor Otti for his commitment to education, youth development and excellence, the team’s coach, Mr Emmanuel Chigozie and other stakeholders who contributed to their success and appealed to the Governor to approve their participation in next year’s competition in Qatar, promising continued dedication and excellence.
The reception featured the presentation of certificates, trophies to the 2026 International School Debate Champions and the education officials as well as a demonstration of the British Parliamentary debating format, during which the students showcased the skills and techniques they employed at the competition in Qatar.
