Call for Applications: UBA Foundation Essay Competition 2026 Offers ₦15m Grant
Applications are now open for the 2026 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC).
This allows Nigerian senior secondary school students to showcase their writing and critical-thinking skills while competing for educational grants worth a combined ₦41.5 million.
Now in its 16th consecutive year, the competition is organised by the UBA Foundation as part of its education initiatives aimed at promoting reading, intellectual development and healthy competition among young people.
Essay Topic
Participants in the 2026 edition are required to write on the topic:
“No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”
Students are expected to examine Nigeria’s food security challenges and propose practical and sustainable solutions to the problem.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to Nigerian senior secondary school students.
Applicants must:
- Be a Nigerian senior secondary school student.
- Complete the online application form.
- Submit a handwritten essay of not more than 750 words.
- Upload a recent passport photograph.
- Upload a scanned copy of a Birth Certificate, National ID card or International Passport.
Prizes and Educational Grants
The 2026 competition has expanded its prizes to cover the top five finalists.
The winners will receive educational grants as follows:
- 1st place: ₦15 million
- 2nd place: ₦10.5 million
- 3rd place: ₦7.5 million
- 4th place: ₦5 million
- 5th place: ₦3.5 million
The grants are intended to support university education at any African university of the winners’ choice.
The ₦15 million first-place grant represents a 50 per cent increase from the ₦10 million awarded to the 2025 winner. The fourth- and fifth-place grants have also been introduced for the first time in the competition.
How the Competition Works
The competition will be conducted in two main stages.
At the first stage, entries will be reviewed and 20 of the best essays will be selected.
The shortlisted candidates will then proceed to a final physical test, from which the five winners will emerge.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submission of entries is Friday, October 23, 2026.
Eligible students are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline to avoid missing the opportunity.
How to Apply
Interested students should complete the online application form and upload the required documents and handwritten essay through the official UBA Foundation National Essay Competition application portal.
Apply Now: UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026
The UBA Foundation National Essay Competition remains one of the Foundation’s flagship education initiatives, providing young Nigerians with a platform to develop their writing abilities, express ideas on important national issues and gain financial support towards their university education.
