UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2025 begins with N18m grants for winners, urging students to harness diversity for nation building

Now in its 15th consecutive year, the competition is open to senior secondary school students across Nigeria and aims to rekindle the reading culture, inspire critical thinking, and empower the next generation of leaders.

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This year’s theme, “Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?” challenges participants to explore how diversity can be transformed into a unifying tool for national development.

The Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, said the essay competition remains a vital platform for young Nigerians to express their ideas.

According to her, the 2025 theme is particularly significant at a time when the nation needs renewed commitment to unity.

“For well over a decade, the National Essay Competition has provided secondary school students with the opportunity to showcase their intellectual prowess.

Parents and pupils eagerly anticipate it each year,” Atta said. She added that young minds hold the key to a more harmonious and prosperous Nigeria.

The Foundation also announced a boost in its grant prizes. The first-place winner will now receive N10 million, up from N7.5m last year, to study at any African university.

The second-place and third-place winners will earn N7.5 million and N5 million respectively, reflecting a significant increase from the previous year.

Applicants must be senior secondary school students in Nigeria and are required to submit a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words, along with proof of age and identity.

Entries must be scanned and uploaded via the Foundation’s digital portal on or before Friday, October 17, 2025.

The competition has expanded beyond Nigeria to other African countries where UBA operates, extending opportunities for students to benefit from the grants.

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Beyond the essay competition, UBA Foundation continues to promote education through initiatives such as the Read Africa project, which has donated hundreds of thousands of books to schools across the continent.