UBA Foundation, the part of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc that focuses on social responsibility, has kicked off the 2026 edition of its yearly National Essay Competition (NEC). This year, they are giving out N41.5 million in educational grants and prizes to the top five winners.
Now in its 16th year running, the competition gives senior secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa a chance to show off their creativity, writing skills, and critical thinking. It also supports them financially as they prepare for university.
A key change this year is that the fourth- and fifth-place winners will receive educational grants for the first time. The first-place winner will get a N15 million grant for university, which is a 50 percent increase from the N10 million awarded last year. The second- and third-place winners will take home N10.5 million and N7.5 million respectively.
The fourth- and fifth-place winners will each get N5 million and N3.5 million in grants to help with their university education at any African university of their choice.
This year, students are challenged to think about a big issue in Nigeria. They will write about: “No nation can develop without food security. How can Nigeria deal with this problem?” Participants need to suggest practical and sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s food security challenges.
Bola Atta, the Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, spoke about the initiative. She said the competition shows the Foundation’s commitment to helping young Nigerians make meaningful contributions to the country's development.
She stated, “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.”
She added, “This year’s topic is particularly crucial, as it tasks them to confront one of the defining questions of our time, which is how we feed our nation and secure its future. We believe the young minds of today hold the key to a more prosperous and self-sufficient Nigeria.”
Eligible students must submit handwritten essays of no more than 750 words through the competition’s online portal by Friday, 23 October 2026. Applicants must be Nigerian senior secondary school students. They need to fill out the online application form and upload their handwritten essay, a recent passport photo, and a valid birth certificate, National ID card, or international passport.
The National Essay Competition is one of UBA Foundation’s main education programs. It complements the Read Africa programme and other efforts aimed at promoting literacy, education, and youth development across Africa.
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