The UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the 2024 edition of its prestigious National Essay Competition (NEC).
This year’s competition comes with a significant 100% increase in educational grants for top winners.
The NEC, now in its 14th year, aims to promote literacy, critical thinking, and healthy competition among secondary school students.
The initiative provides future leaders with financial support to pursue higher education.
This year’s essay topic is “The Impact of Carbon Emission on Climate in Nigeria: Discuss the Challenges and Proffer Solutions.”
This topic aligns with global climate change efforts, encouraging students to engage with one of the most pressing environmental challenges.
Thousands of entries will be received from senior secondary school students. From these, 75 finalists will each receive a N75,000 grant and compete in regional essay-writing competitions in Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.
The top 20 finalists will then vie for grand prizes of N7.5 million, N5 million, and N3.5 million for first, second, and third place, respectively. All 20 finalists will also receive laptops and educational tools.
In a new initiative this year, teachers from the top three schools with the highest number of entries will be rewarded for their efforts in encouraging participation.
Essays will be evaluated on originality, depth of insight, and creativity by a panel of esteemed English professors from across Nigeria.
Bola Atta, Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, emphasized the Foundation’s dedication to education as a catalyst for development.
“We recognize the transformative power of education… Through this competition, we are empowering youth to dream big and achieve greatness.”
Atta explained the decision to increase the prizes: “We understand the financial challenges many families face… By increasing the grant prizes, we aim to make a clear statement about our unwavering dedication to African education.”
The National Essay Competition has also been extended to other African countries where UBA operates, providing opportunities for students across the continent to benefit from educational grants.
As a cornerstone of UBA Group’s CSR strategy, UBA Foundation continues to make a positive impact through various initiatives.
The Foundation’s “Read Africa” program has donated hundreds of thousands of books to students across the continent, while the National Essay Competition has enabled countless students to further their education and change their lives.
The 2024 National Essay Competition is set to inspire and empower young Africans to take action on climate change while pursuing their academic dreams.
UBA Foundation remains committed to fostering literacy, critical thinking, and educational excellence among Nigeria’s youth.
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