The UBA Foundation has once again taken bold steps to empower young Nigerians by increasing the educational grants for winners of its prestigious National Essay Competition (NEC). Now in its 15th consecutive year, the competition continues to serve as a beacon of opportunity for secondary school students across Nigeria.
A Platform for Young Voices
The 2025 edition of the NEC invites senior secondary school students to share their perspectives on the theme: “Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”
This theme reflects one of the most pressing conversations in Nigeria today: how diversity, often seen as a challenge, can become a tool for unity, growth, and development. By engaging with this topic, the competition not only stimulates critical thinking but also rekindles the dwindling reading culture among young people.
Bigger Grants, Bigger Opportunities
This year, the Foundation has significantly raised the stakes. The first-place winner will receive a N10 million university grant to study at any African university of choice. This represents a 33 percent increase from the N7.5 million prize awarded last year.
The second-place winner will earn N7.5 million, while the third-place finalist will take home N5 million. Both prizes reflect increases from last year’s N5 million and N3.5 million awards. In total, participants will share over N18 million in educational grants and consolation prizes.
Voices from the Foundation
Speaking on the competition, the Managing Director and CEO of UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, emphasised its importance at a time when the country is seeking unity.
“For well over a decade, the National Essay Competition has given secondary school students a vital platform to showcase their intellectual abilities. Parents and pupils even call months ahead to ask about its commencement,” she said.
Atta described this year’s topic as crucial because it challenges students to view Nigeria’s diversity as its greatest strength. “We believe the young minds of today hold the key to a more harmonious and prosperous Nigeria,” she added.
How to Participate
To enter, applicants must be senior secondary school students in Nigeria. They are required to:
- Complete the online application form
- Submit a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words
- Attach a recent passport photograph
- Provide a valid birth certificate, National ID card, or international passport
The deadline for submission is Friday, October 17, 2025. Entries can be submitted via the Foundation’s official website at ubagroup.com/uba-foundation/national-essay-competition/ or by scanning the QR code available on promotional materials.
Beyond Nigeria
While the NEC has become a household name in Nigeria, the competition has also expanded across other African countries where UBA operates. This ensures that more African students can benefit from the life-changing opportunities that come with the educational grants.
The NEC forms part of UBA Foundation’s broader Education Pillar. Through initiatives like the Read Africa project, the Foundation has donated thousands of books to schools across the continent. Over the years, these programs have inspired reading habits and improved access to higher education for countless young people.
By raising the value of its grants in 2025, UBA Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to shaping the future of Africa’s youth.
