By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation has launched its 15th annual National Essay Competition (NEC), inviting senior secondary school students across Nigeria to participate.
The theme for this year’s competition is “Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”
The competition is open to Nigerian senior secondary school students. The essay must be handwritten and have a maximum of 750 words, on the given topic. Copies of entries should be scanned through the digital portal on or before October 17, 2025. There will be prizes for the winners. There will be educational grants worth over N18 million, with the first-place winner receiving N10 million, second-place N7.5 million, and third-place N5 million
According to Mrs. Bola Atta, Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, “For well over a decade, the National Essay Competition has provided a vital platform for our secondary school students to express their ideas and showcase their intellectual prowess. In fact, parents and pupils have come to look forward to the NEC as they keep calling to ask about the commencement.”
She further said, “This year’s topic is particularly crucial as it tasks them to look at our country’s greatest asset which is our diversity, and devise ways to leverage it for unity, growth, and national development. We believe the young minds of today hold the key to a more harmonious and prosperous Nigeria.”
How to Apply:
1. Complete the online application form.
2. Upload a recent passport photograph.
3. Provide a valid birth certificate, National ID card, or international passport.
4. Submit application through the Foundation’s official website or by scanning the QR code.
The UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition aims to inspire critical thinking, foster a vibrant reading culture, and empower the next generation of leaders. The foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of books to students across Africa under the ‘Read Africa’ initiative and has provided opportunities for hundreds of students to improve their lives through higher education.
