Rector Cares Foundation has launched 2026 Water Essay Competition for South-West Students and offered ₦1m prize pool.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Rector Cares Foundation has announced the launch of the second edition of its annual Water Essay Competition, inviting SS1 and SS2 students from secondary schools across South-West Nigeria to participate.
The competition, open to students in Lagos State, Ogun State, Oyo State, Osun State, Ekiti State, and Ondo State, is themed “Water-Related Diseases: Prevention Strategies Through Community Education.”
The initiative builds on the success of its 2024 debut edition, which focused on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and attracted over 100 entries from students in Lagos. This year’s edition expands its reach across the entire South-West region, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to engaging young Nigerians on pressing water and public health challenges.
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The competition aims to provide a platform for students to critically examine the link between water-borne diseases and community education, while proposing practical, locally relevant solutions. Organisers say the theme is designed to inspire evidence-based thinking and deeper analysis beyond surface-level responses.
For the first time, the competition will feature a three-tier prize structure, with the top three finalists sharing a prize pool valued at ₦1 million. Prizes include laptops, internship opportunities, and other incentives.
Speaking on the initiative, the Foundation’s founder, Onyedikachi Erete, said the expansion reflects lessons from the previous edition.
“The response we received in 2024 showed how important it is to engage young people on water issues. This year, we are extending the opportunity across all six South-West states to amplify their voices and ideas,” Erete said.
He added that the competition is designed to nurture a generation of informed and socially conscious leaders who can contribute to solving Nigeria’s water challenges.
The Rector Cares Foundation focuses on improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene through community projects and educational programmes across Nigeria.
Submissions for the 2026 Water Essay Competition are now open and will close on April 30, 2026. Interested participants can visit the Foundation’s website for registration details and guidelines.
