Otti Rewards Abia Debate Champions, Offers Scholarship To Captain

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has rewarded five students who represented Abia State and Nigeria at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar, with N1m each, while announcing a full educational scholarship up to university level for the team’s captain, 15-year-old Esther Christian.

The governor announced the rewards on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, while hosting the students in recognition of their performance at the international competition.

Governor Otti in a group photography with the students

The scholarship, to be provided through the Alex Otti Foundation, will cover Esther’s education up to university level. The young debater reportedly lost her father when she was four years old.

In addition to the rewards for the five students, Otti presented N1m to Onyinyechi Okonkwo of Ovom Girls Secondary School, winner of a recent national essay competition.

He also awarded N750,000 each to the officials who accompanied the debate team and N1.75m to Abia Model Basic Junior Secondary School, Abayi Umuocham, Osisioma Ngwa, which produced the champions.

Presenting trophies, medals and certificates to the students, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving education through sustained investment, better infrastructure and expanded access to quality learning.

Otti congratulated the students, describing the celebration of outstanding achievements as part of Abia’s identity.

“This is in the DNA of Abia State. We celebrate people. When you do well, we celebrate you,” the governor said.

He also approved the students’ request to participate in the 2027 edition of the competition, acknowledging the progress recorded in the state’s education sector while stressing that more work remained to be done.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said the achievements represented the beginning of what could be accomplished through sustained investment in education.

Ubochi expressed optimism that the impact of the government’s interventions would become increasingly evident, adding that investments in the sector would yield positive results.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Mrs. Lydia Ezinne Onuoha, who led the delegation to Qatar, said the students distinguished themselves at the competition, emerging among the leading teams.

She explained that during the five final rounds, participants were presented with impromptu topics and given only 15 minutes to prepare and deliver their arguments.

According to her, the Abia team won four trophies and 12 medals after competing against representatives from six countries.

The team secured the awards for Best International School Debate Team, Overall Best Team in the Junior Category, Best Debater and Best Leadership. Its members also ranked among the tournament’s top 10 speakers in an event that featured more than 84 teams.

The Coordinator of the President’s Schools Debate Championship, Elder Oritu Dare, commended the governor for developments in the state, particularly infrastructure, saying he had observed a significant difference between his previous visits under past administrations and his latest visit.

Dare said the team’s performance had opened an opportunity for Nigeria to participate in the next edition of the competition scheduled to hold in Singapore.

The Abia State Coordinator of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mrs. Unyime Umoette, also acknowledged changes in the state’s education sector, noting that public schools were becoming more functional.

She urged public office holders to adopt public schools in their communities and contribute to their development.

Speaking on behalf of the parents, Mr. Akamnonu Christopher thanked the governor for hosting the students and supporting education, describing their international achievement as a source of pride.

The team captain, Esther Christian, recounted the students’ experience at the competition and expressed appreciation to the governor for his commitment to education and to the officials who supported them.

She pledged that the team would continue to make Abia State and Nigeria proud, while appealing for approval to participate in the 2027 championship.

Parents of the students and senior government officials attended the event.