UBA Foundation increases National Essay Competition grants to N22.5 million, supporting students’ education and promoting academic excellence
UBA Foundation has announced a major boost to its annual National Essay Competition, offering educational grants worth over N22.5 million to winning students across Nigeria.
The initiative, which has grown into one of the most respected academic competitions in the country, aims to encourage literacy, creativity, and critical thinking among senior secondary school students.
This year’s first-prize winner will receive a remarkable N10 million university grant, representing a 33 per cent increase from last year’s N7.5 million. The second and third-place winners will also benefit from enhanced grants of N7.5 million and N5 million, respectively, up from N5 million and N3.5 million in 2024.
In addition to the monetary awards, the top 12 finalists will each receive brand-new laptops and educational tools to aid their university preparation and academic pursuits.
The essay topic for the 2025 competition is: “Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”
Speaking on the significance of the programme, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, said the increase in prizes demonstrates the bank’s unwavering commitment to education and youth empowerment.
“The deliberate and significant increase in the value of these educational grants underscores our dedication to investing in academic excellence and alleviating the financial burden of higher education for Nigerian students and their families,” Atta explained.
“We are confident that this will further inspire a culture of academic achievement and critical thinking.”
She added that UBA Foundation remains deeply committed to providing impactful opportunities for young Africans, who represent the future of the continent.
To participate, eligible Nigerian students currently in senior secondary school must submit scanned copies of their handwritten essays (not exceeding 750 words), along with a passport photograph and proof of identity such as a birth certificate, National ID, or international passport.
Entries should be submitted through the foundation’s official portal at (https://www.ubagroup.com/uba-foundation/national-essay-competition/) on or before Friday, 17 October 2025.
The UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa Plc, focuses on initiatives that enhance Education, the Environment, and Economic Empowerment across Africa.
Also read: UBA Foundation launches National Essay Competition 2025 with record of N18m prize
Through impactful programmes like the National Essay Competition, the Foundation continues to foster intellectual growth and inspire the next generation of African leaders.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
