Winners have emerged in the third edition of the UBA National
Essay Competition for Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.
In a keenly contested competition,
Master Ezenwa Joseph Okonkwo, a fifteen year old student of Ambol Comprehensive
High School, Akesan-Igando, Lagos, won the coveted prize of N1m educational
grant, from nearly 2000 entries received across the country.
Toluwase Adeagbo of Sharon Rose
Schools College, Saki and Korie Ijeoma Jennifer of Air Force Secondary School,
Port Harcourt emerged first and second runner ups, winning the sum of N750,000
and N500,000 as educational grants.
Speaking during the grand
finale and prize presentation of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for
Senior Secondary Schools, held at the Bank’s Headquarters in Lagos, Alhaji
Alkali Mohammed, President Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)
commended UBA Foundation for the initiative and urged other institutions to
emulate the educational initiative.
According to the ICAN
President, the path towards sustainable development is through investment in
the education of its youths, particularly in Nigeria. Harping on the ideals
behind the essay contest he said “any competition such as this will certainly
help to bring out the best in the youths, by kindling their competitive spirit
and academic excellence”
Speaking at the event, Kennedy
Uzoka, the bank’s deputy managing director explained that the initiative was
not only to test the aptitude and knowledge of our students but has become a
pipeline to groom future UBA Ambassadors. He said the winners who would go to
any university of their choice in Africa would remain part of the UBA family
provided they are of good behavior and remain focused. “In UBA we appreciate
and nurture talents. All the finalists here today have opportunity to excel in
life and UBA is delighted to play a part in the process” he added.
Conceived 3 years ago, the UBA
Foundation National Essay Competition was instituted as a follow up to the Read
Africa initiative of the Foundation. “Winners each year receive educational
grants to study in any university of their choice in Africa. We are encouraged
to continue to do this and touch the lives of our children by so doing” he
stated.
The UBA National Essay
competition which opened for entries in September and closed on November
1, 2013, received nearly 2000 entries from which 12 finalists were selected to
write a supervised essay at the bank’s head office. The three winners emerged
based on their performance at the supervised essay.
The 12 finalists chosen by a
panel of 4 Nigeria Professors are: Victoria Aluko (Caleb International College,
Magodo); Gloria Ayoola (St. John Comprehensive Academy, Ilesa); Korie Ijeoma
Jennifer (Air Force Secondary School, Port Harcourt); Sarah Benson (Living
Stone College); Esenwa Joseph Okonkwo (Sambol Comprehensive High School,
Akesan-Igando) and Ayewunmi Bukola Ifesowapo Snr. High School, Aboru). Others
include Ogbo Ozioma (Kingsdale Schools, Akute); Toluwase S. Adeagbo (Sharon
Rose Schools College, Gedu Estate, Saki); Adetona Miriam Omolayo (Oladipo
Alayande School of Science, Oke-Bola, Ibadan); Ani Chisom Tochukwu (Krisbethel
College, Ipaja); Mmesoma S. Enibe (University of Nigeria Secondary School,
Nsukka) and Sunday K. Ikemsinchi (Dority International Secondary School, Aba).
Each of the 12 finalists received
a laptop as a consolation prize for getting to the final of the competition.
As a the CSR
platform for the UBA Group, UBA Foundation works through four areas of
focus, education, economic empowerment, environment and special project.
Communities across Nigeria and other parts of the continent continue to benefit
from the foundation through these focus areas
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