Rivers State took centre stage as it hosted the grand finale of the 2026 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Inter-Senior Secondary Schools Debate Championship at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.
The three-day national competition brought together brilliant young debaters representing all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following the official opening ceremony on Tuesday.
The highly contested grand finale featured Team Rivers and Team Kwara, with Team Rivers emerging as the overall winner of the 2026 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Inter-Senior Secondary School Debate Championship while Team Kwara came second, team Sokoto came third while Team Ebony came fourth.
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The event, with the theme 27th Democracy Anniversary and the third anniversary of the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria (PSDN), attracted students, heads of schools, teachers and other education stakeholders.
The Special Guest of Honour was the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Dr. Oluremi Tinubu, CON, while the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, served as the Chief Host.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, Elder Dare Oritu, urged the participating students to make their voices heard and engage in constructive arguments, noting that debating would sharpen their minds and strengthen their intellectual abilities.
Elder Oritu also appreciated the Rivers State Government and Governor Siminalayi Fubara for providing a conducive and beautiful ambience for the grand finale.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr. Peters Nwagor, commended the participants for their commitment and support for the debate programme. He noted that the championship provides an important platform for students to demonstrate their intellectual prowess, confidence, critical-thinking abilities and mastery of public speaking.
Dr. Nwagor further stated that Rivers State remains willing to host the national competition again whenever the opportunity arises.
Adding further colour to the grand finale was the presentation of Awards of Excellence to Governor Fubara of Rivers State and Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State. The awards recognised them as the best-performing governors in the South-South and North Central geopolitical zones respectively.
The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, who represented Governor Fubara at the event, expressed appreciation to the organisers for choosing Rivers State to host the national finals. He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the welfare of teachers and the development of the education sector.
He said the gathering was “a powerful demonstration of our collective commitment to education, intellectual development, national unity, and the cultivation of a generation of young Nigerians who will one day provide responsible and visionary leadership.”
He commended the organisers for the initiative and congratulated Team Rivers on emerging as the winner of the 2026 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Inter-Senior School Debate Championship.
Other recipients of awards at the event included the Commissioners for Education of Sokoto, Kwara and Yobe States.
The successful conclusion of the championship underscored the importance of debate, critical thinking and intellectual engagement in preparing young Nigerians for responsible leadership and strengthening national unity.
Also present at the grand finale were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, GCON; the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad; the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr. Peters Nwagor; and the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs.) Mina Tele Ikuru.
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