UBA Foundation Elevates Prizes for 2024 National Essay Competition, Calls for Entries
The UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa Plc, has announced an increase in the prize value for its annual national essay competition as entries open for the 2024 edition. This year marks the 14th iteration of the contest, which aims to enhance literacy and promote intellectual development among senior secondary school students throughout Nigeria and the African continent.
In a recent statement, Bola Atta, the Chief Executive Officer of UBA Foundation, emphasized the organization’s unwavering commitment to educational excellence, particularly in light of ongoing global economic difficulties. “We recognize the challenges families are facing, especially amid Nigeria’s current economic climate. By raising the first-place prize to N7.5 million and offering N5 million and N3.5 million for second and third places respectively, we are affirming our dedication to the education of African youth,” Atta stated.
He added that this increase in grant prizes is a reflection of their awareness regarding the escalating costs associated with quality education, demonstrating their resolve to enable outstanding students to achieve their academic aspirations without financial burden.
This year’s essay topic is “Discuss the Impact of Carbon Emission on Climate in Nigeria: Challenges and Solutions.” Students are required to conduct thorough research, write, scan, and upload their handwritten essays via the digital portal by November 8, 2024.
Essays will be evaluated by esteemed English professors, who will select the top 75 submissions, each of which will receive a cash prize of N75,000. Additionally, a regional competition will occur across four locations in Nigeria: Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. Here, 75 participants will vie for the opportunity to become one of the 20 finalists.
These finalists will then write a second essay, from which the top three will be chosen. In recognition of their achievements, the 20 finalists will each receive brand-new laptops and other educational resources to support their studies and future research endeavors. Moreover, teachers from the school with the highest number of submissions will also be rewarded.
Atta highlighted that professors from leading Nigerian universities will serve as judges throughout all competition stages to ensure fairness and transparency in the evaluation process.
Reflecting on UBA Foundation’s ongoing commitment to development across Africa, Atta noted that the National Essay Competition (NEC) exemplifies the foundation’s broader educational initiatives. One such program, ‘Read Africa,’ has successfully distributed hundreds of thousands of books to students across the continent.
“The competition exemplifies our pledge to nurture the next generation of African leaders and thinkers,” Atta affirmed. “Through initiatives like this and our ‘Read Africa’ program, we are not just fostering literacy; we are making an investment in the intellectual resources that will shape Africa’s future.”
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