UBA Foundation has launched 2025 National Essay Competition and raised the grant pool to over ₦18 Million.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has flagged off the 2025 edition of its annual National Essay Competition (NEC), offering more than ₦18 million in educational grants and consolation prizes to winning participants.
Now in its 15th year, the NEC invites senior secondary school students across Nigeria to write on the theme:
“Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”
Students are required to submit scanned copies of their handwritten essays through the competition’s online portal on or before Friday, October 17, 2025.
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Bigger Rewards for Winners
To deepen its commitment to education, UBA Foundation has increased its grants significantly:
First Prize: ₦10 million university grant (up from ₦7.5 million last year)
Second Prize: ₦7.5 million grant (up from ₦5 million)
Third Prize: ₦5 million grant (up from ₦3.5 million)
According to UBA Foundation, the enhanced prizes are meant to further encourage academic excellence and help students pursue higher education at any African university of their choice.
Promoting Unity Through Diversity
Speaking on the initiative, Bola Atta, Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, emphasized that the NEC continues to provide a vital platform for young Nigerians to share ideas and showcase intellectual capacity.
“This year’s topic is crucial because it compels students to look at Nigeria’s greatest asset — our diversity — and explore how it can be leveraged for unity, growth, and national development,” Atta said.
“We believe the young minds of today hold the key to a more harmonious and prosperous Nigeria.”
Eligibility and Submission Guidelines
Applicants must be senior secondary school students in Nigeria. Interested participants are to:
Complete the online application form.
Upload a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words on the assigned topic.
Attach a recent passport photograph and a valid birth certificate, national ID card, or international passport.
Submissions can be made via the Foundation’s official website at ubagroup.com/uba-foundation/national-essay-competition/ or by scanning the QR code on NEC publicity materials.
UBA Foundation’s Educational Impact
Beyond Nigeria, the competition has expanded to other African countries where UBA operates, providing more students with access to educational opportunities. The NEC is one of the Foundation’s flagship initiatives under its Education pillar, which also includes the Read Africa campaign — through which hundreds of thousands of books have been donated to schools across the continent.
UBA Foundation says the competition continues to rekindle reading culture, inspire critical thinking, and empower the next generation of African leaders.
