The winners of the UBA essay competition have been announced.

The winners of the UBA essay competition have been announced.

FastNews reports that the winners of the 11th annual National Essay Competition have been announced by the UBA Foundation, an arm of the United Bank for Africa Plc.

Esther Eziaku, a student at His Grace High School in Enugu State, was named the overall winner with the best essay during the grand finale, which was attended by students, staff, and parents at UBA’s head office in Lagos.

Nduka Chukwuemeka of Oxfords International School, Abia State, won the second prize of an N2.5 million educational grant and a laptop, while Hajarat Abdulwahab of Addy Basic School, Kano, won the third prize of N2 million and a brand-new laptop.

The other nine finalists received brand-new laptop computers as well as consolation prizes such as books and other learning materials.

The bank said Eziaku beat 11 other finalists selected from over 7,000 entries received digitally by the UBA Foundation from students of senior secondary schools across Nigeria.

Eziaku won an educational grant of N3 million to study at any African university of her choice, a brand-new laptop, and many other educational tools from the UBA Foundation.

She would be supported throughout her educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the UBA Foundation.

UBA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said UBA had been touching lives and making a solid impact through the UBA Foundation.

He added that the annual competition had produced hundreds of winners, some of whom had long graduated from higher schools and had been impacting their communities.

“Like we did last year, we again increased the prices to match the rising cost of living. Over the years, we have been assured that we are doing something very unique and truly African, and this is why the initiative is for those who wish to study in Africa because we are proud of our continent, ” he said.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, congratulated the winners and commended them for their exceptional brilliance.

She said, “Every student who sent in an entry is a winner. To be confident about your writing skills and ambitious enough to enter a competition to further enhance your educational path is laudable.

“For those that did not win, I would say do not be discouraged. Take it as a challenge to perfect your writing skills and enter for the competition again next year.”