Business Page Writer
By Nonso Agbodi
The UBA Foundation has announced a fresh round of opportunities for Nigerian secondary school students as it opens entries for the 2025 National Essay Competition (NEC), with scholarships and prizes valued at over ₦22.5 million.
This year’s competition comes with upgraded benefits. The overall winner will walk away with a ₦10 million grant to study at any African university of choice — a notable jump from last year’s ₦7.5 million. The second and third-place winners will also enjoy improved awards of ₦7.5 million and ₦5 million respectively.
In addition, the top 12 finalists will each receive brand-new laptops and learning materials, a reward meant to prepare them for the academic journey ahead.
Now in its annual cycle, the NEC is one of the longest-running initiatives of UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa Plc. It is aimed at nurturing young minds, encouraging reading and writing culture, and instilling critical thinking skills.
The theme for this year challenges students to offer solutions on:
“Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”
Speaking on the programme, Bola Atta, Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, said the organisation deliberately increased the prize value to strengthen its impact.
“This competition has empowered thousands of students over the years. By raising the scholarship amounts, we are helping to remove financial barriers to education and inspiring a new generation of thinkers and leaders,” she explained.
Applications are open exclusively to Nigerian students in senior secondary schools. Participants must submit handwritten essays (not exceeding 750 words), accompanied by proof of identity such as a birth certificate, National ID, or international passport.
Submissions can be uploaded via the Foundation’s online portal or through a QR code displayed on official competition posters. The deadline for entries is Friday, October 17, 2025.
With education at the core of its social responsibility drive, UBA Foundation says it will continue to support initiatives that shape the future of African youth, giving them platforms to excel both locally and globally.
