Otti Gives Abia Debate Champions N1m Each, Offers Scholarship  

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved a cash reward of ₦1 million each for five students who represented the state and Nigeria at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar.

The governor also announced that the Alex Otti Foundation would sponsor the education of team captain Esther Christian, 15, through university. Christian lost her father when she was four.

Otti announced the rewards on Saturday while hosting the students at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, where he presented trophies, medals and certificates to the team in recognition of its performance.

“We congratulate all of you for your outstanding performance. Celebrating outstanding achievements is part of Abia’s identity. This is in the DNA of Abia State. We celebrate people. When you do well, we celebrate you.

“We will make available a cash gift of ₦1 million each to the five of you who represented Abia State and Nigeria at the International Schools Debate Championship, Doha, Qatar, 2026.

“I have also approved your request to participate in the 2027 edition of the competition, because we believe that although considerable progress has been made in the education sector, more work remains to be done.”

Otti also approved ₦1 million for Onyinyechi Okonkwo of Ovom Girls Secondary School, who won the National Essay Competition. Officials who accompanied the debate team will receive ₦750,000 each, while Abia Model Basic Junior Secondary School, Abayi Umuocham, Osisioma Ngwa, will receive ₦1.75 million.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, saying the state would continue to invest in infrastructure and expand access to quality learning.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, said the students’ achievements showed that the impact of the state’s investment in education was becoming visible. He added that the results were only the beginning of what could be achieved.

The Chairperson of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Lydia Onuoha, who led the team, said the students performed strongly throughout the competition, including in five final rounds featuring impromptu topics, for which participants had only 15 minutes to prepare.

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

“We are happy because our team clinched the Best International School Debate Team, Overall Best Team in the Junior Category, Best Debater and Best Leadership awards. They also ranked among the top ten speakers in the tournament, which featured over 84 teams.”

The President’s Schools Debate Championship Coordinator, Oritu Dare, commended improvements in the state’s educational infrastructure, comparing them favourably with what he had seen under previous administrations. He said the team’s victory had also created an opportunity for Nigeria to participate in the next edition of the competition in Singapore.

Abia State Coordinator of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Unyime Umoette, also praised improvements in public schools and urged public officeholders to embrace and support public education.