UBA Foundation has unveiled 2025 National Essay Competition and offers over ₦22.5 million in University Grants.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the commencement of the 2025 edition of its National Essay Competition (NEC), giving Nigerian secondary school students the chance to win educational grants worth over ₦22.5 million to study at any university in Africa.
This year’s prizes have seen a remarkable increase, with the first-place winner set to receive a ₦10 million university grant, up from ₦7.5 million last year. The second and third-place winners will receive ₦7.5 million and ₦5 million respectively, compared to ₦5 million and ₦3.5 million previously awarded.
In addition to the cash prizes, the top 12 finalists will be rewarded with brand-new laptops and other educational tools to aid their academic journey.
The competition, which forms part of UBA Foundation’s commitment to promoting literacy, critical thinking, and intellectual excellence, challenges students to write on the topic:
“Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”
Speaking on the initiative, Bola Atta, Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, highlighted the bank’s unwavering dedication to educational development across Africa.
“The deliberate and significant increase in the value of these grants underscores our commitment to supporting academic excellence and easing the financial burden of higher education for students and their families,” Atta said. “UBA Foundation remains deeply committed to creating impactful opportunities for young people — the future of our continent.”
To qualify, participants must be senior secondary school students in Nigeria and 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 via the official portal on uba foundation’s website.
The deadline for submission is Friday, October 17, 2025. Entries can be submitted through ubagroup.com/uba-foundation/national-essay-competition or via the QR code provided on official posters and publications.
UBA Foundation continues to focus its CSR initiatives on Education, Environment, and Economic Empowerment, driving sustainable growth and community development across Africa.