Five Abia school students out-argued the world in Doha — and their captain's university fees are now covered

Five students from public schools in Abia State, Nigeria, travelled to Doha and came home with laurels from the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship. On Saturday in Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti received them with ₦1 million (about $740) each, ₦1 million (about $740) for national essay champion Onyinyechi Okonkwo, ₦750,000 (about $560) each for their officials, and ₦1.75 million (about $1,300) for their school. The moment that stopped the room: a full university scholarship through the Alex Otti Foundation for the team's 15-year-old captain, Esther Christian, who lost her father when she was four. 'This is in the DNA of Abia State. We celebrate people,' the governor said.

SDG 4 · Quality education — Mechanism: funding & finance