The United Bank for Africa Foundation has selected 20 secondary school students to contest the final round of its 2026 National Essay Competition. The top five participants will share a total of 41 million naira in educational grants and rewards.
According to Punch, the finalists came out tops after judges evaluated more than 12,000 entries submitted by senior secondary school learners across the country. The initiative is run each year by the philanthropic arm of United Bank for Africa Plc to encourage reading culture, critical thinking, and intellectual growth among young Nigerians.
This year features an enhanced prize package. The overall champion will walk away with a 15 million naira university scholarship grant, which marks a 50 per cent rise compared to the 10 million naira given to the winner in 2025. The runner-up will receive 10 million naira, while the third-place finisher gets 7.5 million naira to cover their studies at any African tertiary institution.
For the first time, the foundation has extended grant rewards to the fourth and fifth positions. The fourth-place student will take home 5 million naira, and the fifth-place contestant will receive 3.5 million naira.
The shortlisted candidates represent institutions located in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Katsina, Ibadan, Awka, Port Harcourt, Imo, and Akwa Ibom. Among them are Abioye Shalom Damilola of The Sprouters Schools, Katsina; Adedoye Roseline Aderonke of Molusi College; Alabi Fawwaz Ayoade of Heritage Global Academy, Ikorodu; Ayomide Jeremiah Dada of Softnet Technology Academy; and Anyanwu Uchenna Olivia of Coral Impacts International School, Abuja.
Other qualifiers include Azuoma Dominica Ugonna of Oxford Secondary School, Ulakwo; Bala Khaira Ojima of Metro International School; Ebunoluwa Louis Oluwanifemi of Igando Community Senior High School; Ezeani Uchenwanne Theresa of Kuje Senior Secondary School; and Gabriel Queenesther Iniobong of Redemption Academy.
To decide the champions, the 20 students will take part in a supervised, in-person writing stage at UBA House in Lagos, where the ultimate winners will emerge.
