Three outstanding teenage girls from Yobe State, Nigeria, have made the nation proud on the international stage at the 2025 TeenEagle Global English Debate held in the United Kingdom. Initially, only one name, Nafisa Abdullah Sani, 17, was widely reported after she beat participants from 66 countries to emerge as the overall winner.
However, it has now been revealed that two other brilliant Nigerian girls — Ruqayya Muhammad Fema and Khadija Kashim Kalli — also made remarkable achievements at the same event.
Meet these incredibly talented daughters of Yobe:
Nafisa Abdullah Sani (17)
Global Champion — 2025 TeenEagle English Debate
A confident, articulate, and deeply thoughtful speaker, Nafisa dazzled the judges and audience with her clarity, composure, and persuasive arguments. Her exceptional performance earned her the top prize at the competition, placing her ahead of contestants from 66 other nations. She has become a symbol of academic excellence and global competitiveness from Nigeria.
Ruqayya Muhammad Fema (15)
World’s Overall Best Student in Debate
Bold, brilliant, and extraordinarily intelligent, Ruqayya was crowned the World’s Overall Best Student in Debate — a rare and historic feat that made headlines globally. Her ability to reason critically and express complex ideas with clarity positioned her among the top young minds of the world. She is being hailed as a rising star and a role model for girls across Africa.
Khadija Kashim Kalli
Winner – Best Talent Award
The quiet genius of the trio, Khadija Kashim Kalli, may not have received early media attention, but she too clinched a prestigious honor — the Best Talent Award, in recognition of her creativity and outstanding abilities. It was later revealed that she felt hurt for being left out of the initial celebrations. Today, we raise our voices in unison to say: Well done, Khadija! You are a star too, and your shine is undeniable.
Recognition and the call for national honour
While the girls await national recognition from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Yobe State Government has already taken the lead by officially acknowledging the exceptional accomplishments of Nafisa and Ruqayya. Their success has brought global attention not only to Yobe but to Nigeria’s potential on the world stage.
Let this moment serve as a reminder: Every child matters. Every voice counts. Every victory deserves celebration.
Together, Nafisa, Ruqayya, and Khadija have proven that girls from Northern Nigeria are not behind — they are brilliant, bold, and more than capable of excelling globally.
— Adam Syte, New Nigerian Student
