Team Anambra yesterday emerged winners of the Inter Basic Debate Competition, beating contestants from the other 35 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

The Debating Competition, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, was organised as part of the activities marking Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary.

The great performance of Team Anambra came on the heels of the emergence, on Monday this week, of Mrs Rose Nkemdilim Obi, a teacher at Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha, as the Best Teacher in Nigeria in the keenly contested Multina Teacher of the Year Awards organised by Nigerian Breweries Plc in association with the Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.

Mrs Obi, who teaches Mathematics, was adjudged the nation’s Best Teacher, after edging out contestants from 19 states of the federation who had emerged as champions of their various states.

“The emergence of Team Anambra as winners of the Debating Competition and Mrs Obi’s emergence as the Best Teacher in Nigeria indicate a direct relationship between the quality of teachers in Anambra State and the bright students that are produced by the various schools in the state,” a Government House statement said.

“The most fascinating thing about the emerging culture of educational excellence in Anambra State is that the high performing students and the award-winning teacher are all from public schools,” said the statement signed by James Eze, Spokesman of Governor Willie Obiano.

“Similarly, the Team Anambra that defeated the contingents of other states to emerge champions of the Schools Debate last year were all drawn from public schools across the state,” Eze said in the statement issued this morning.

“The team,” according to him, “was made up of Adachukwu Onyekwena from Girls Secondary School, Amaenyi, Awka, Nnamdi Udoji from Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Chinemerem Oguaba from Awada Secondary School, Obosi, Chukwuebuka Obichi from Army Day Secondary School, Onitsha and Nneka Chigozie from Mater Ammabillis Secondary School, Umoji; all public schools located in different parts of the state.

“The emergence another Team Anambra as winners of this year’s Schools Debate is simply a repeat of the feat achieved by their compatriots who had gone further from that performance to represent Nigeria at the World Schools Debate Championship in Singapore in June this year.

“The recent string of excellent performances by students from different schools in Anambra State are a clear validation of the outstanding feat the state has achieved in education with its candidates coming tops in WAEC and NECO examinations in three successive years.”

•Photo shows Governor Obiano bonding with Anambra school children.

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