Governor Otti Rewards Abia Debate Champions with ₦1m Each

Abia State Governor Alex Otti announced a cash reward of ₦1 million each for five students who represented Abia State and Nigeria at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship held in Doha, Qatar. The announcement was made during a ceremony at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, where Otti also presented trophies, medals, and certificates to the team.

Additionally, Otti revealed that the Alex Otti Foundation would sponsor the education of team captain Esther Christian, 15, who lost her father at a young age. He approved their participation in the 2027 competition and allocated ₦1 million to Onyinyechi Okonkwo for winning the National Essay Competition.

Officials accompanying the debate team will receive ₦750,000 each, and Abia Model Basic Junior Secondary School will receive ₦1.75 million. Otti reaffirmed his administration's commitment to education, while Goodluck Ubochi, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, noted the visible impact of state investments in education.

The team won multiple awards, including Best International School Debate Team and Best Debater.