UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026 for Nigerian Senior Secondary Students

Brief Description

The UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026 is now open for senior secondary school students across Nigeria, offering a total of N41 million in educational grants. Organized annually as part of the UBA Foundation’s education initiative, this contest aims to foster a strong reading culture and spur intellectual competition among young scholars. If you are a senior secondary student in Nigeria, this initiative provides a platform to share your written solutions to pressing national challenges while securing substantial funding for your tertiary education.

Name of Host Institution

UBA Foundation

Requirements/Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a Nigerian Senior Secondary School Student.
• Must submit a fully completed official application form.
• Must submit a handwritten essay of 750 words maximum (typed essays are not accepted).
• Must upload a recent passport photograph.
• Must upload a scanned copy of a Birth Certificate, National ID, or International Passport.

Essay Topic

The topic for the 2026 competition is: “No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”

Selection Process and Prize Structure

The contest runs in two distinct stages. In the first stage, judges will review all submitted entries to select the 20 best essays. In the second stage, these shortlisted students will take part in a final physical test to determine the top 5 overall winners.

The top five finalists will receive university grants structured as follows:

• First Place: N15 million university grant (increased from N10 million in 2025)
• Second Place: N10.5 million university grant
• Third Place: N7.5 million university grant
• Fourth Place: N5 million university grant
• Fifth Place: N3.5 million university grant