By IHECHINYERE CHIGEMERI-UWOM

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has rewarded five students who represented Nigeria at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar, with N1 million each.

Otti announced the rewards on Saturday at a welcome ceremony in the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, for the contingent made up of students from Abia Model Junior Secondary School.

The team won four major awards: Best International School Debate Team, Overall Best Team in the junior category, Best Debater Award and Best Leadership Award, alongside 12 medals for outstanding individual performances.

The governor approved the team’s request to participate in the 2027 competition, announcing financial rewards for the school and the officials who facilitated the team’s participation.

Otti announced N750,000 each for three education officials involved in the students’ participation and N1 million for the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Mrs Lydia Onuoha.

He also approved N1.75 million for Abia Model Junior Secondary School, which produced the debating team.

Otti announced another N1 million reward for Okonkwo Onyinyechi, winner of the 2026 National Essay Championship.

The governor also directed the Alex Otti Foundation to sponsor 15-year-old 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,” Otti said.

The governor said that the decision was an exception to the foundation’s usual practice of supporting undergraduates.

He said that Christian would be admitted into its scholarship programme before university.

Otti congratulated the students and commended their coaches, school authorities and other stakeholders, urging the team to sustain its commitment to excellence.

He said that his administration was renovating public schools and improving teaching and learning facilities across the state.

The governor disclosed that the government had approved 21 smart schools, with two completed and handed over, while a third was expected before the end of the year.

He urged individuals, community leaders and other stakeholders to adopt schools in their communities to complement government efforts.

Otti said that the government was working to deploy armed personnel of the Homeland Security outfit to schools to protect pupils and school property.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, commended the state government’s investment in education.

Garba, represented by the commission’s Abia Coordinator, Mrs Unyime Umoetti, urged political office holders and other stakeholders to support grassroots development by visiting their communities and adopting local schools.

She encouraged the students to remain focused and pursue greater achievements.

In her remarks, Onuoha said that the team won four trophies and 12 medals at the international championship, competing against teams from Jordan, Pakistan, India, Kenya and Ghana.

She said that Chukwuemeka Akamnonu won the Best Speaker Award in the final, adding that the team’s success reflected ongoing investments in school renovations, teacher training and free, compulsory basic education.

Speaking on behalf of the parents of the debate team members, Mr Christopher Akamnonu, thanked the government for its efforts in enhancing the standard of education in the state.

Akamnonu said that the massive investment in education was transforming the school system in Abia and creating opportunities for students to excel.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Christian said that the team competed against 84 teams and 168 debaters, with all five members ranking among the world’s top 10 speakers.

She thanked the governor, the team’s coach, Mr Emmanuel Chigozie, and other stakeholders for supporting the team, pledging that the students would continue to strive for excellence.

The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates and trophies to the champions and education officials, as well as a demonstration of the British Parliamentary debating format by the students.

The names of the debaters are Simon Nduoma, aged 18; Chikodi Nmesooma, aged 15; Akamnonu, aged 16; and Ifeanyichukwu Cherechukwu, aged 16. (NAN)