The UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC) 2026 is now open to Nigerian senior secondary school students, providing young writers with an opportunity to showcase their writing and intellectual abilities while competing for substantial educational grants.
The annual competition is organised by UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA), as part of its education initiatives aimed at promoting reading, writing and intellectual development among young people. The 2026 competition offers a ₦15 million educational grant for the overall winner, while the second- and third-place winners will receive ₦10 million and ₦7.5 million respectively.
UBA National Essay Competition 2026 Details
Organiser: UBA Foundation
Eligible Applicants: Nigerian Senior Secondary School Students
Country: Nigeria
Essay Length: Maximum 750 words
Essay Format: Handwritten
First Prize: ₦15,000,000 educational grant
Second Prize: ₦10,000,000 educational grant
Third Prize: ₦7,500,000 educational grant
Fourth Prize: ₦5,000,000
Fifth Prize: ₦3,500,000
About the UBA National Essay Competition
The UBA Foundation National Essay Competition is an annual writing competition targeted at senior secondary school students. It was established as part of UBA Foundation's education initiatives to encourage a stronger reading culture and provide young people with a platform to develop their intellectual and writing abilities.
The competition has been running since 2011 and has provided educational grants to outstanding students over the years. UBA Foundation describes the initiative as a platform for developing the intellectual and writing abilities of senior secondary school students in Africa.
For the 2026 edition, students are being challenged to write about food security in Nigeria, making the competition an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their understanding of an important national issue while proposing practical solutions.
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Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to:
- Nigerian senior secondary school students.
- Students who can prepare and submit a handwritten essay based on the 2026 topic.
- Applicants who can provide the required identification and application information.
The official UBA Foundation application page specifically states that applicants must be Nigerian Senior Secondary School Students.
Essay Topic
The 2026 essay topic is:
“No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”
Participants should use the topic as an opportunity to examine the causes and consequences of food insecurity in Nigeria and discuss practical ways the country can address the problem.
A strong essay can consider issues such as agricultural productivity, food production, access to farmland, climate change, storage and transportation, food prices, technology, government policies, financing for farmers and youth participation in agriculture.
Students should also focus on presenting their own ideas clearly rather than simply listing the challenges facing the country.
Essay Requirements
Applicants are required to submit a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words.
The essay should not be typed. Participants should ensure that their handwriting is clear and that the completed essay can be properly scanned or photographed for online submission.
The official application requirements also include:
- A completed application form.
- A recent passport photograph.
- A scanned copy of a Birth Certificate, National ID or International Passport.
- A handwritten essay of 750 words maximum.
Applicants should ensure that all uploaded documents are clear and readable before submitting their entries.
Prizes to Be Won
The 2026 competition offers some of the largest educational grants available through the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition.
According to the current official competition page, the prizes include:
First Position
₦15,000,000 educational grant
Second Position
₦10,000,000 educational grant
Third Position
₦7,500,000 educational grant
Fourth Position
₦5,000,000
Fifth Position
₦3,500,000
The educational grants are intended to support the winners' further education. UBA Foundation's education programme describes the NEC as a competition through which winners receive educational grants to study at an African university of their choice.
How the Competition Works
The competition follows a selection process designed to identify the strongest essays.
At the first stage, submitted essays are reviewed and the 20 best essays are selected.
The shortlisted participants then proceed to a final physical test, from which the five leading winners emerge.
This means applicants should take the essay seriously and focus on producing a well-researched, original and clearly structured response to the topic.
How to Apply for the UBA National Essay Competition 2026
Interested students can apply online through the official UBA Foundation competition portal.
Step 1: Prepare Your Essay
Write a handwritten essay of 750 words or less on:
“No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”
Step 2: Prepare the Required Documents
Applicants should have a recent passport photograph and a scanned copy of one of the accepted identification documents, such as a Birth Certificate, National ID or International Passport.
Step 3: Visit the Official Application Page
Go to the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition page:
CLICK HERE TO APPLY JOIN WHATSAPP FOR MORE
Step 4: Complete the Application
Fill in the required details and upload the handwritten essay and supporting documents according to the instructions on the application portal.
Step 5: Submit Before the Deadline
Review the application carefully and submit it before the closing date.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the UBA National Essay Competition 2026 is October 23, 2026.
Students are encouraged to complete their applications early to avoid problems with uploading documents or submitting their entries close to the deadline.
Why Students Should Consider Applying
The competition provides more than an opportunity to win a cash award. It gives senior secondary school students a platform to develop their writing, research and critical-thinking skills while engaging with an important national issue.
Previous editions have attracted thousands of entries. UBA Foundation's 2024 competition, for example, recorded 12,110 entries across five participating countries, demonstrating the level of competition surrounding the initiative.
The competition has also produced winners from both public and private secondary schools. In 2025, a 13-year-old SS2 student from Igando Community Senior High School emerged as the overall winner of the 15th edition.
Important Scholarship and Competition Safety Alert
Students and parents should be careful when applying for scholarship and essay competitions online.
Do not provide your BVN on scholarship or competition application forms.
Also avoid anyone who asks you to make payment to:
- Submit an application.
- Get shortlisted.
- Guarantee that you will win.
- Process your educational grant.
- Receive your certificate or prize.
Never share your ATM PIN, OTP, bank password, internet banking login details or card security information with anyone claiming to represent UBA Foundation.
Always use the official UBA Foundation website and application channels when submitting your entry.
Conclusion
The UBA National Essay Competition 2026 is an opportunity for Nigerian senior secondary school students to demonstrate their writing and critical-thinking abilities while competing for major educational grants.
The 2026 competition focuses on the important issue of food security in Nigeria, with students required to submit a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words.
The overall winner will receive a ₦15 million educational grant, while the second and third positions will receive ₦10 million and ₦7.5 million respectively. Additional grants are available for the fourth and fifth positions.
Students who meet the eligibility requirements should prepare their essays carefully and submit their applications through the official UBA Foundation portal before October 23, 2026.
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