Senior secondary school students across Nigeria have another opportunity to secure financial support for their university education, as the UBA Foundation opens its 2026 National Essay Competition with N41 million in educational grants and prizes.
This competition by the UBA Foundation is in its 16th edition and is open to Nigerian senior secondary school students. This year, the first-place winner will receive N15 million, while the second- and third-place winners will receive N10.5 million and N7.5 million, respectively. For the first time, fourth- and fifth-place winners will also receive N5 million and N3.5 million, respectively.
The interesting part isn't only the money. This year's essay topic asks students to tackle a major national issue: “No nation can develop without food security. How can Nigeria deal with this problem?”
That gives you a nice educational angle around getting young Nigerians to think about real national problems and propose solutions, rather than simply competing for a prize. UBA Foundation says the competition is intended to promote reading, writing, critical thinking, and intellectual competition among secondary-school students.
Important information for intending students
Who can apply: Nigerian senior secondary school students
Essay : Handwritten, maximum 750 words
Topic : Food security in Nigeria
Deadline : Friday, October 23, 2026
Applicants must also submit a passport photograph and a valid birth certificate, National ID, or international passport.
Students interested in participating have until October 23 to submit their entries, giving them a few weeks to put their ideas on paper and compete for educational grants worth a combined 41 million naira.
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