The competition, which targets senior secondary school students across Nigeria, offers participants an opportunity to demonstrate their writing abilities
UBA Raises Stakes In Essay Competition, Expands Winners’ Circle To Five
By Olajide OMIKUNLE
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation has raised the stakes in its National Essay Competition (NEC), increasing the total educational grants to N41 million and expanding the number of beneficiaries to five in the 16th edition of the initiative.
The competition, which targets senior secondary school students across Nigeria, offers participants an opportunity to demonstrate their writing abilities, critical thinking skills and understanding of issues affecting the country’s development, with the top five finalists set to receive financial support towards their university education.
Under the revised prize structure, the first-place winner will receive N15 million in university grants, while the second and third-place winners will receive N10 million and N7.5 million, respectively.
The fourth- and fifth-place winners, introduced for the first time in the competition’s history, will receive N5 million and N3.5 million, respectively.
The expanded prize structure represents a significant development for the annual initiative, providing additional students with access to educational funding while encouraging young Nigerians to engage with critical national issues through writing.
The foundation said the competition provides a platform for students to express their ideas and showcase their writing and critical thinking skills, with the opportunity to secure financial support throughout their university education.
For students and their families, the grants could help ease some of the financial pressures associated with pursuing higher education, while providing an incentive for young people to develop their intellectual abilities and participate in conversations about Nigeria’s future.
This year’s competition will require participants to address the question: “No nation can develop without food security. How can Nigeria deal with this problem?”
The topic places food security at the centre of the exercise, challenging students to consider one of the country’s most pressing development concerns and propose practical ways of addressing it.
Participants will be expected to examine the relationship between food availability and national development, bringing their understanding of the subject to bear on possible solutions to the challenges confronting Nigeria’s food system.
The choice of topic also offers students an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of how agriculture, food production, distribution and access to affordable food can influence the country’s economic and social progress.
Beyond the financial rewards, the competition is designed to encourage young people to develop their capacity for research, reasoned argument and clear communication.
By extending the number of prize recipients from three to five, the foundation is providing more students with the opportunity to benefit from the initiative.
The first-place award of N15 million remains the biggest individual grant, while the additional awards ensure that students finishing fourth and fifth also receive substantial financial support towards their education.
The competition comes amid continuing discussions about the importance of education and the need to provide young Nigerians with opportunities to develop their talents and pursue their academic ambitions.
For senior secondary school students preparing to enter university, the grants could provide meaningful support as they plan the next stage of their education.
The foundation has encouraged eligible students to take advantage of the opportunity by preparing essays that demonstrate originality, sound reasoning and a practical understanding of the question.
Entries must be handwritten and must not exceed 750 words. Applications are to be submitted through the competition’s digital portal.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 23, 2026.
Interested students can access the application portal at www.ubagroup.com/nec/.
With the increased prize pool and the introduction of two additional award categories, the 16th edition of the National Essay Competition offers more students the opportunity to secure educational funding through their writing.
For prospective entrants, the challenge is to develop a compelling response to the food security question, demonstrate an understanding of the issues involved and present practical ideas on how Nigeria can address them.
The competition places the emphasis on the ability of young Nigerians to think critically about national challenges and articulate ideas that could contribute to the country’s development, while offering financial support to those who emerge among the top five finalists.
