UBA National Essay Competition 2026

Applications are now open for the UBA National Essay Competition 2026, an annual writing competition organized by UBA Foundation for senior secondary school students in Nigeria. The competition is designed to promote reading, writing, creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual development among young people while providing educational support to outstanding students.

Now in its 16th year, the National Essay Competition has become one of UBA Foundation’s major education initiatives. It provides Nigerian secondary school students with an opportunity to express their ideas on important national issues, demonstrate their writing abilities, and compete for educational grants that can support their university education.

The 2026 competition focuses on one of Nigeria’s most important development challenges, food security. Applicants are required to respond to the essay topic: “No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”

Through this year’s competition, students are encouraged to think critically about Nigeria’s food production systems, access to food, agricultural development, sustainability, economic development, and possible solutions to food insecurity. The competition provides a platform for students to present practical ideas while strengthening their research, writing, and analytical abilities.

The application deadline for the UBA National Essay Competition 2026 is October 23, 2026. Eligible students must submit a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words together with the required identification documents and passport photograph.

About the Competition

The UBA National Essay Competition is organized by UBA Foundation as part of its commitment to education and youth development. UBA Foundation describes the competition as a platform for developing the intellectual and writing abilities of senior secondary school students while supporting winners with educational grants for university study.

The 2026 edition challenges students to consider the relationship between food security and national development. Participants are expected to develop thoughtful arguments around how Nigeria can address food security challenges and build a more sustainable future.

The competition has two major stages. In the first stage, submitted essays are assessed and 20 of the best entries are selected. The shortlisted students then proceed to a final physical test, after which five winners are selected.

The educational grants are intended to support university education at an African university of the winners’ choice. This makes the competition not only a platform for intellectual expression but also an opportunity for students to receive substantial financial support for their future studies.

Competition Benefits

Successful winners will receive:

• First place educational grant of ₦15 million.

• Second place educational grant of ₦10 million.

• Third place educational grant of ₦7.5 million.

• Fourth place educational grant of ₦5 million.

• Fifth place educational grant of ₦3.5 million.

• Financial support toward university education.

• Opportunity to showcase writing and critical thinking abilities.

• Recognition through one of UBA Foundation’s major education initiatives.

• Opportunity to compete with talented senior secondary school students from across Nigeria.

The five top prizes have a combined value of ₦41 million based on the prize amounts listed on UBA Foundation’s official competition page. Recent reporting from UBA Foundation puts the overall educational grant and prize package at ₦41.5 million.

Essay Topic

Applicants must write an essay on the following topic:

“No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”