Bola Atta, Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation
The UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has officially launched the 2024 edition of its renowned National Essay Competition (NEC), announcing a substantial 100% increase in educational grants for the top winners. This exciting development marks a major commitment to supporting education in Nigeria and across Africa.
Now in its 14th year, the NEC is a flagship initiative aimed at promoting literacy, critical thinking, and healthy competition among secondary school students, while providing young leaders with the financial assistance needed to pursue higher education. The 2024 competition challenges senior secondary school students to write essays on the topic: *“The Impact of Carbon Emission on Climate in Nigeria: Discuss the Challenges and Proffer Solutions.”* This year’s theme ties into global efforts to combat climate change, encouraging students to reflect on a pressing environmental issue and offer creative solutions.
From the pool of thousands of anticipated entries, 75 finalists will be awarded N75,000 each before moving on to a regional essay-writing competition in Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. The final stage will see the top 20 students compete for the grand prizes: N7.5 million for first place, N5 million for second place, and N3.5 million for third place. Additionally, all 20 finalists will receive laptops and other educational tools to help enhance their academic journey.
This year introduces an exciting new feature—teachers from the top three schools with the highest number of essay entries will also be rewarded for encouraging their students to participate. The essays will be reviewed by a panel of distinguished English professors from across Nigeria, with judging criteria focusing on originality, depth of thought, and creativity.
Atta also highlighted the reasoning behind the increase in grant prizes, noting, “We recognize the financial challenges that many families face in today’s economic climate. By doubling the grant prizes, we are making a clear statement about our commitment to education. This increase reflects our understanding of the rising costs of quality education and ensures that top-performing students can pursue their academic dreams without financial limitations.”
Expanding its reach beyond Nigeria, the NEC has also been extended to other African countries where UBA operates, providing even more students across the continent with opportunities to benefit from these educational grants.
As a cornerstone of UBA Group’s CSR efforts, UBA Foundation has made a significant impact through