The UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the commencement of the 2026 edition of its annual National Essay Competition (NEC), with a total of N41.5 million in educational grants and prizes up for grabs by the top five winners.
Now in its 16th consecutive year, the competition continues to provide senior secondary school students across Nigeria and Africa with an opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, writing abilities and critical-thinking skills while receiving financial support for their university education.
A major highlight of this year’s competition is the introduction of educational grants for the fourth- and fifth-place winners, expanding the number of finalists eligible for financial support.
The first-place winner will receive a N15 million university grant, a 50 per cent increase from the N10 million awarded in 2025.
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The second- and third-place winners will receive N10.5 million and N7.5 million, respectively. The fourth-place winner will receive N5 million, while the fifth-place winner will receive N3.5 million towards university education at any African university of their choice.
Commenting on the initiative, UBA Foundation Managing Director/CEO, Bola Atta, said the competition underscores the Foundation’s commitment to nurturing young Nigerians and empowering them to make meaningful contributions to national development.
She said: “For well over a decade, the National Essay Competition has provided a vital platform for our secondary school students to express their ideas and showcase their intellectual prowess.”
Atta added that the continued expansion of the competition reflects the Foundation’s determination to invest in the education and potential of Africa’s next generation of leaders.
