Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has congratulated pupils from the state for winning the 2026 Presidential Schools Debate Championship for the fifth time. They beat Lagos State 5-1 in the final held in Abuja.
The governor described the achievement as a remarkable performance. He commended the four pupils who represented the state for sustaining Kwara’s winning record in the national competition.
The victorious team comprised Halimoh Abdulazeez from Ilorin West, Khadija Kazeem from Offa, Omolola Ibrahim from Moro and Samaila Daniel from Ilorin East.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, AbdulRazaq said the victory, alongside other achievements recorded by Kwara pupils at different competitions, reflected the impact of investments in the state’s education sector.
“I am very glad to learn that Team Kwara has won the highly competitive 2026 presidential school debate for a record fifth time,” he said.
The governor also acknowledged the contributions of officials of the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, the State Universal Basic Education Board, teachers who coached the pupils and their parents.
He said the collective efforts of the stakeholders contributed to the pupils’ success at the national competition.
AbdulRazaq further said the performance had encouraged his administration to sustain its investment in education.
“Essentially, this feat and other achievements of Kwara pupils at different fora are a reflection that the investments of our administration in the education sector for the past seven years are yielding good results. I am, indeed, encouraged to do more,” he stated.
The governor also congratulated the Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Sheu Adaramaja, on his recognition as the Best SUBEB Chairman in Nigeria.
He described the award as a deserving recognition of Adaramaja’s efforts and dedication to the development of basic education in Kwara State and across the country.
The 66th edition of the championship, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, featured pupils from public primary schools across the country. Team Kwara defeated representatives of Edo, Delta, Katsina, Niger and Lagos on its way to the final.
The pupils received a trophy and a cash prize of N500,000 from the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Aisha Garba.
The Presidential Schools Debate is a national academic competition designed to promote reading culture, critical thinking, research skills and public speaking among pupils. It also provides a platform for young participants to engage with opposing views and develop their debating abilities.
The competition, which was approved in 2001 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, involves pupils from schools across the country who progress through preliminary contests before reaching the national championship.
