AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday hosted a team of Kwara schoolchildren who recently won the International Junior Secondary School Debate Championship in Malaysia.
The competition, which ended in December 2025, featured participants from 16 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe, with Nigeria represented by pupils from the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KwSUBEB).
The pupils earned the right to represent the country after emerging national champions in school debate — a title Kwara has now secured for four consecutive years.
Shortly after the Malaysia outing, the team also participated in the Nigerian Presidential School Debate in Lagos, where they again emerged champions.
Impressed by the double victory, Governor AbdulRazaq praised the students for their outstanding performance, describing them as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria and Kwara State.
The debaters are Lawal Maryam Kikeloma, Jatto Rahmatallah Onize, Paul Unity, Fatimah AbdulRahman Thaini, and Priscilla Aremu Temilayo.
To reward their achievement, the governor announced a ₦2 million cash reward for each student and ₦500,000 each for their tutors. The reward is in addition to ₦3 million savings already set aside for each of the students by SUBEB during the Malaysia trip last year.
Congratulating the students, their teachers and parents, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the education sector and improving the welfare of teachers.
“You represented us well and you are worthy ambassadors of Nigeria and Kwara State. We are truly proud of your achievements,” he said during the reception held in Ilorin.
He added that the government would continue investing in school infrastructure, curriculum development and support for civil servants, especially teachers, to further improve educational standards in the state.
Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said the team’s victory made Nigeria the first African country to win the international debate championship, adding that the students also received an award as the Best Behaved Team at the competition.
Adaramaja attributed the success to the administration’s consistent support for education and the dedication of teachers and coaches.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Jatto Rahmatullah Onize thanked the governor for providing a conducive learning environment that helped them succeed on the global stage.
She also expressed gratitude to the SUBEB management, their teachers and parents for their mentorship and support.
The reception was attended by members of the Kwara State House of Assembly, cabinet members, local government council chairmen from Offa, Ilorin South and Ilorin East, SUBEB officials, coaches and family members of the champions