UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026: How to Apply and Win Up to N15 Million
The UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026 is now open, and Nigerian secondary school students have until 23 October 2026 to submit their entries. This is one of the most rewarding essay competitions in the country, with a total prize pool that includes an educational grant of up to 15 million naira for the first-place winner.
If you are a senior secondary school student or you know one who should apply, here is everything you need to know before the deadline.
What Is the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition
The UBA Foundation runs this competition annually as part of its commitment to education across Africa. The competition is open to Nigerian senior secondary school students and rewards strong writing, clear thinking, and academic ability. Winners receive educational grants that go toward funding their studies.
Prizes and Educational Grants
Five winners will be selected and each receives an educational grant as follows:
First prize: 15,000,000 naira
Second prize: 10,000,000 naira
Third prize: 7,500,000 naira
Fourth prize: 5,000,000 naira
Fifth prize: 3,500,000 naira
Who Is Eligible to Apply
The competition is open to Nigerian senior secondary school students only. If you are currently in senior secondary school in Nigeria, you qualify to enter.
UBA Foundation National Essay Competition Entry Requirements
Before you begin your application, make sure you have the following ready:
A handwritten essay of no more than 750 words, with your full name written on it, scanned and saved as a file
A recent passport photograph
A scanned copy of your birth certificate, national identity document, or international passport
Your essay must be handwritten. Typed essays will not be accepted. When naming your uploaded files, include your full name and the document type in the filename, for example "John Doe - Passport Photograph". Incomplete or duplicate applications will be disqualified.
How the Selection Process Works
A panel of judges made up of professors from Nigerian universities will review all submitted essays. From the entries received, 20 finalists will be shortlisted and invited to a physical assessment at the UBA Head Office in Lagos. The five final winners will then be selected based on the quality of their essays.
How to Apply for UBA Foundation National Essay Competition
Follow these steps to complete your entry before the deadline:
Open the UBA Foundation essay competition application form at forms.gle/Xc6NJnd7Uqh4UioT8
Fill in your complete contact information
Write your essay by hand, keeping it within the 750-word limit
Scan your essay, passport photograph, and identification document
Upload all three documents through the form
Review your application and submit before 23 October 2026
Application Deadline for UBA Foundation National Essay Competition
The deadline to submit your entry is 23 October 2026. Do not wait until the last day to put your application together, especially since you need to write the essay by hand and scan the documents before uploading.