The UBA Foundation has announced that winners of the 2025 edition of the National Essay Competition (NEC) will receive educational grants worth over ₦22.5 million to study at any African university of their choice. This year’s prize represents a major boost for young Nigerians pursuing academic excellence across the continent.
The first-prize winner of the NEC will receive a ₦10 million university grant, marking a 33% increase from last year’s ₦7.5 million.
The second and third-place winners will each get ₦7.5 million and ₦5 million, respectively, also up from ₦5 million and ₦3.5 million. Beyond the cash rewards, the writers of the twelve best essays will also go home with brand-new laptops and learning tools to aid their tertiary studies.
The NEC, a flagship of UBA Foundation’s education initiative, aims to promote literacy and stimulate intellectual competition among senior secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa. This year’s topic challenges students to explore how Nigeria’s diversity of culture, ethnicity, and religion can foster unity and national development.
Managing Director/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, said the upward review in cash grants demonstrates the bank’s commitment to nurturing future leaders. “The deliberate and significant increase in the value of these educational grants underscores our dedication to investing in academic excellence and easing the financial burden of higher education on Nigerian families,” she explained.
She added that UBA Foundation remains passionate about creating opportunities that empower youth. “We are confident this investment will further inspire critical thinking and a culture of excellence,” Atta said, reinforcing the Foundation’s belief in youth as the driving force for Africa’s future.
To qualify, participants must be senior secondary school students in Nigeria. They are required to submit scanned copies of their handwritten essays (not exceeding 750 words), along with a passport photograph, and a copy of their birth certificate, national ID, or international passport. Submissions should be made through the UBA Foundation NEC portal at ubagroup.com/uba-foundation/national-essay-competition.
The deadline for submission is Friday, October 17, 2025. Interested students can also scan the QR code displayed on official posters and UBA platforms to access the application page.
Through NEC, UBA Foundation continues to advance its mission to improve socio-economic development across Africa. Its focus areas—Education, Environment, and Economic Empowerment remain vital pillars for community transformation and sustainable progress.
