By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
In a remarkable display of brilliance and oratory skill, five secondary school students from Delta State have brought global honour to Nigeria by winning the prestigious World Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar — a feat that has sparked celebration across the country and renewed focus on the power of education.
Representing Nigeria, the all-Delta student team outshone counterparts from the State of Chicago, USA, and the host country, Qatar, to emerge world champions after a fierce intellectual contest that saw them secure a 2–1 win in the first round and a commanding 3–0 victory in the final, clinching the title with an aggregate score of 5–1.
The young champions — Wisdom Chukwuma (Government College, Ughelli), Otorvo Uyoyou (Alegbo Secondary School, Effurun), Abraham Honour (Okpaka Secondary School, Okpaka), Ikhamateh Splendour (Government Model Secondary School, Asaba), and Alika Daniel (Utagba-Ogbe Grammar School, Kwale) — have since returned home to national applause, their triumph hailed as a major boost to Nigeria’s global image in youth development and education.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, while congratulating the students, described their achievement as not only historic but also symbolic of the state’s rising intellectual power. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor said:
“These students have not just made Delta proud — they’ve made Nigeria proud. Their world-class performance is a strong endorsement of our sustained investment in education through the MORE Agenda. We celebrate their courage, clarity of thought, and the discipline that brought them this far.”
Governor Oborevwori gave special recognition to Miss Ikhamateh Splendour, who was named the Overall Best Debater of the tournament — the first Nigerian to achieve the honour at that level. He called her victory “a beacon of the Delta Can-Do Spirit” and a shining example for millions of young Nigerians.
Parents, educators, and youth advocates across the country have since hailed the team’s success as a powerful reminder of what Nigerian children can achieve when given the right support and opportunities.
The governor encouraged young people across the nation to emulate the team’s commitment to excellence, urging them to remain focused in their educational and personal pursuits.
With this milestone, Delta State has not only reinforced its position as a beacon of academic excellence but has also inspired a new generation of Nigerian students to dream beyond boundaries — and speak their way into history.