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Oborevwori Rewards Champions With N100m
BY FESTUS AHON
The grand auditorium in Doha, Qatar, was charged with anticipation. On stage, five young Nigerians stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their faces a blend of determination and hope. Moments earlier, they had delivered their final arguments at the 2025 World Schools Debate Championship, with voices ringing with clarity, conviction, and maturity beyond their years.
Then came the thunderous announcement: Nigeria had won.
The cheers were not just for the trophy, but also for a journey that began in modest classrooms across Delta State.
For Wisdom Chukwuma of Government College, Ughelli; Otovo Uyoyou of Alegbo Secondary School, Effurun; Abraham Honour of Okpaka Secondary School, Okpaka; Ikhamateh Splendour of Government Model Secondary School, Asaba; and Alika Daniel of Utagba-Ogbe Grammar School, Kwale, the victory crowned months of relentless preparation.
For Delta State, it was proof that talent, when nurtured, can match the best in the world. For Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, it was a moment of deep pride — the kind that makes leadership worthwhile.
When the champions returned, Government House, Asaba, welcomed them with jubilation. Beaming, the governor received the glittering trophy from Elder Dare Oritu, National Coordinator of President’s Schools Debate Nigeria.
“We were optimistic you would emerge victorious — and you lived up to expectations,” Oborevwori told the students. “You have made us proud, not just as a state but as a nation. God answered our prayers,” he added.
In that room, the applause was not just for the victory but also for the journey. Only months earlier, the five had competed at the National Basic Education Debate Championship, organized by the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria. Facing teams from every state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), they had triumphed, earning the right to represent Nigeria at the world stage. It was a journey paved with late-night study sessions, mock debates on complex global issues, and an unyielding determination to excel.
Governor Oborevwori, whose MORE Agenda prioritises education under its “Opportunities for All” pillar, had ensured the state fully sponsored the team’s trip to Doha. In his eyes, their success underscored why education remains the most valuable gift any parent or government can bestow. “Education remains with you till death, it is the only tangible thing parents can give their children. You have brought joy to your families, pride to your schools, and hope to the youth of Delta,” he told them.
Then came a gesture as remarkable as the victory itself: N20 million for each of the five students, and another N20 million for their coach and team handlers. The room erupted in cheers. For the young champions, it was an overwhelming recognition of their work. For the adults who guided them, it was a validation of years spent mentoring, teaching, and believing in their wards.
Elder Dare Oritu, clearly moved, described the governor as “education-friendly and supportive,” crediting his strategic investment in the sector for making the victory possible. Hon. Samuel Mariere, Chairman of the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board, echoed the sentiment, pointing out that Delta was the first state in Nigeria to pay its full 2025 SUBEB counterpart funding. “This is the product of deliberate policy to empower young minds,” he said. “We are working to restore public schools to their old glory, and this achievement shows we are on the right path.”
For the students, Doha was more than a competition. It was an immersion in global perspectives, a test of adaptability, and an affirmation of their place in the world of ideas. They debated on climate change, economic policy, and social justice, often defending positions they personally disagreed with, a skill that taught them empathy, quick thinking, and the discipline to argue with both passion and respect. “We are living proof that when you invest in education, you invest in the future,” Splendour Ikhamateh said on behalf of the team. “We dedicate this award to the Governor, and we promise to keep training, keep practicing, and keep representing Delta diligently.”
Their coach recalled the grueling preparation that led to that moment: hours of research, mock sessions, and feedback cycles designed to sharpen their skills to a fine edge. “Winning wasn’t just about speaking well,” the coach reflected. “It was about confidence, discipline, and the ability to stand anywhere in the world and defend your ideas.”
The parents, who watched from the sidelines as their children blossomed into world champions, were effusive in their gratitude. “This is every parent’s dream,” one mother said, holding her daughter’s medal. “To see your child recognized for something that will stay with them for life.” In their communities, the champions have become role models, sparking new debate clubs in schools and inspiring a wave of students to take their studies and their voices more seriously.
For Governor Oborevwori, the victory holds a deeper meaning. Delta State, long celebrated for its oil wealth, is steadily building a new reputation, as a cradle of talent in sports, the arts, and now, intellectual competition.
By rewarding academic excellence on par with sporting achievements, the governor has sent a powerful message: the sharpness of the mind deserves as much celebration as physical prowess.
The ripple effects are already visible. Schools are investing more in extracurricular intellectual activities. Teachers are encouraging students to explore debate, STEM clubs, and the creative arts alongside their core studies. Most importantly, young people are seeing that excellence in the classroom can command respect, recognition, and reward.
As the champions left Government House, Asaba, the cheers still echoing in their ears, they knew their journey was only beginning. They had stood before the world and won, but more importantly, they had inspired countless others to believe they could do the same.
The trophy may one day gather dust, but the skills, confidence, and resilience they gained will shape their futures, and perhaps, the future of their state and nation.
“If our children will study like these young ones, we will not have crimes today,” the governor said. It was a simple truth, spoken in celebration, but it carried the weight of a vision: a Delta where intellect is as celebrated as any other talent, where opportunity truly exists for all, and where young voices rise to meet the challenges of a complex world.
In the story of Wisdom, Otovo, Abraham, Splendour, and Daniel, Delta has found more than champions. It has found proof that, with care, discipline, and belief, even the humblest classroom can produce citizens capable of standing, and winning, on the world stage.
