UBA increases award prize for national essay competition by 100%, shortlists 12 from 6,000 entries
UBA FOUNDA TION, THE CORPORATE social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has increased the grand prize for its annual national essay competition by 100 percent from N1 million in 2017 to N2 million this year.
This was disclosed by Bola Atta, the chief executive officer of UBA Foundation, who explained that the first prize that would be given to the 2018 winner of the competition is a N2 million educational grant to study in any African university of his or her choice.
Atta said the second and third prizes have also been increased to N1.5 million and N1m educational grants respectively, up from N750,000 and N500,000 previously obtained.
The UBA foundation organises a national essay competition on a yearly basis, targeting senior secondary school students as part of its education initiative aimed at promoting the reading culture and encouraging healthy and intellectual competition amongst secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa.
For this year’s competition, the topic for the essay is “What is the biggest environmental issue you think your generation will face? How can it be avoided and how can it be solved?”
Atta explained that the choice of topic for this year’s competition is one that helps promote creative and analytical thinking in students and encourages them to be problem solvers.
The foundation in a statement made available to business a.m also revealed that of 6,000 entries received this year, twelve finalists for the 2018 edition have been shortlisted.
“The 12 finalists will sit for the second round of the competition, where three winners will emerge after undergoing supervised essay writing on a different topic from the original entry, on Saturday November 25, 2018 at the Bank’s headquarters in Lagos,” the statement said.
It noted that “The 12 finalists were selected after a very tedious grading process undertaken by a distinguished panel of judges made up of top professors from reputable higher institutions from the four geographical zones in Nigeria.
The students were graded using some parameters including grammar, articulation, arrangement, handwriting, punctuation and strength of argument.
Interestingly, this year’s edition recorded the highest participation, with more entries coming in from various secondary schools across the country - even after entries had been closed. In all, over 6,000 entries were received for this year’s edition.”
The foundation revealed the names of the finalists in no particular order to be: Ugwuagbo Chinweizu of Lydia of Shalom Academy Nsukka; Israel-Olusegun Daniel of The Fountain Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogun State; Alo Praise Ayomiposi of Lagos African Church Grammar School, Lagos State; Adeyemi Abdul-Lateef of Pivic Colege Iba, Lagos State, Adetola Ibukunoluwapo from Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Lagos; Odjegba Omesiri Divine of International High School, Delta State; Hezekiah Tiffany Uruaku of Faith Academy Rivers State.
Others are Ozemoka Halimat Emesomi, University Preparatory Secondary School, Edo State; Idogbo Sharon O. of Holy Child College, Lagos; Adiankpo IniIso Christopher of Nigerian Christian Institute, Uyo and Komolafe Justice Babatunde of Kingsfield College, Lagos State.
UBA Foundation’s national essay competition has been taken to other African countries including Ghana and Senegal, Mozambique and Kenya.
The foundation indicated that the initiative will spread to more African countries in 2019.