UBA Foundation Essay Competition Offers ₦41m University Grants to Nigerian Students
The UBA Foundation has opened applications for the 16th edition of its National Essay Competition (NEC), offering five Nigerian senior secondary school students a chance to win university education grants worth a combined ₦41 million.
The competition provides an opportunity for young Nigerians to demonstrate their writing abilities, critical thinking and creativity while competing for financial support to pursue their university education.
With the introduction of two additional prize categories, the 2026 edition offers more students the opportunity to benefit from the initiative, which promotes educational development and intellectual excellence among young Nigerians.
Under the prize structure, the first-place winner will receive a ₦15 million university grant, while the second and third-place winners will receive ₦10 million and ₦7.5 million, respectively.
The fourth- and fifth-place winners, introduced for the first time in the competition’s history, will receive ₦5 million and ₦3.5 million, respectively.
The expanded prize structure brings the total value of the educational grants to ₦41 million, reinforcing the competition’s commitment to supporting young Nigerians in their pursuit of higher education.
This year’s competition also challenges participants to address a critical national issue through the essay topic: “No nation can develop without food security. How can Nigeria deal with this problem?”
The question invites students to examine Nigeria’s food security challenges and propose practical solutions to improve food production, distribution and availability across the country.
Beyond the financial rewards, the initiative offers students a platform to develop their research, writing and analytical skills while contributing ideas to discussions on Nigeria’s development priorities.
Senior secondary school students across Nigeria are encouraged to participate by submitting original, handwritten essays of no more than 750 words.
Applications must be submitted through the UBA Foundation’s official competition portal at https://www.ubagroup.com/nec/.
The application deadline is Friday, October 23, 2026.
With ₦41 million in university grants available to five winners, the 16th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition presents an opportunity for young Nigerians to turn their ideas into meaningful educational support.
For students aspiring to university education, the challenge is clear: put their ideas on paper, offer practical solutions to Nigeria’s food security concerns and seize the opportunity before the deadline.
