Applications are now open for the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, an annual competition for senior secondary school students across Nigeria.
The UBA National Essay Competition gives Nigerian senior secondary school students an opportunity to showcase their writing skills, critical thinking, knowledge, and understanding of an important national issue.
This post will explain everything you need to know about the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition including the essay topic, requirements, prizes, application process.
Table of Contents
About UBA Foundation National Essay Competition
The UBA Foundation Essay Competition forms part of UBA Foundation’s education initiative, which aims to promote the reading culture and encourage healthy and intellectual competition among secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa.
The National Essay Competition for Nigerian Students focuses on an important issue affecting Nigeria, with this year’s participants required to write an essay on food security.
Successful participants stand a chance to receive educational grants ranging from ₦3.5 million to ₦15 million.
Essay Topic
No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?
The UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition follows a two-stage selection process.
- 1st Stage: Call for entries – 20 best essays to be selected
- 2nd Stage: Final physical test – 5 winners
Application Requirements
Applicants for the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition must provide the following:
- Nigerian Senior Secondary School Students
- Complete contact details
- Scanned copy of your handwritten essay of 750 words max (not typed)
- Recent passport photograph
- Scanned copy of Birth Certificate or National ID or International Passport
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Selection Procedure
The UBA Foundation National Essay Competition follows a selection process.
- All entries will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges comprising professors from reputable Nigerian universities. From the entries received, 20 finalists will be shortlisted for the next stage.
- The 20 finalists will participate in a final physical test at the UBA Head Office, Lagos. The top five winners will be selected based on the quality of their essays.
Essay Competition Prizes
The UBA Foundation National Essay Competition offers educational grants to the five winners.
- 1st Prize – ₦15 million
- 2nd Prize – ₦10 million
- 3rd Prize – ₦7.5 million
- 4th Prize – ₦5 million
- 5th Prize – ₦3.5 million
Important Tips
Before submitting an entry for the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, applicants should take note of the following:
- All incomplete and/or duplicate entries will be disqualified.
- Ensure your full name is written on your handwritten essay before uploading.
- The title of the attachments should be the applicant’s name and the name of the document being attached e.g (John Doe – Passport Photograph or John Doe – Birth Certificate or John Doe – Essay)
How to Apply for UBA Foundation National Essay Competition
To apply for the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, eligible students should prepare their handwritten essay and required supporting documents.
Follow these steps:
- Go to UBA Foundation National Essay Competition Portal
- Read the essay topic carefully.
- Review your application before submission.
Applicants for the UBA National Essay Competition should ensure every requirement is complete before submission.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026 is October 23, 2026.
