The UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the United Bank for Africa, today,
\nheld its tenth annual National Essay Competition(NEC) in a virtual
\nceremony that was attended by high school students from across the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
The UBA Foundation’s Education initiative has been changing lives for a
\ndecade as the tertiary education scholarship programme continues to
\nimpact the lives of many students and their communities.<\/p>\n
For the fourth consecutive year, the females have led this competition
\nwith14 year-old Eshiet Abasiekeme of Bright Stars Model Secondary School
\nfrom Akwa-Ibom state taking home this year’s winning prize.<\/p>\n
Eshiet received an educational grant of N2,500,000.00 to study in any
\nAfrican university of her choice. She will also be supported throughout
\nher educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the UBA
\nFoundation.<\/p>\n
Abasiekeme who had joined the virtual event from her base in Akwa Ibom
\nstate in Nigeria, could not contain her excitement as she heard the
\nannouncement that she had won the first prize of the NEC 2020. “I feel
\nhonoured to be the winner of this year’s NEC, and I want to appreciate
\nUBA and UBA Foundation as this will help towards my dream of becoming a
\nlawyer,” she said proudly, expressing that she would like to go to
\nuniversity in Uyo in her home state.<\/p>\n
The second prize was awarded to 14-year-old Mofuluwake Adesanya of
\nSpring Forte-Lead College Lagos State, who won a N2,000,000 educational
\ngrant, whilst the third prize of N1,500,000 went to Abdulganiyy Habeeba,
\n16 years old. Abdulganiyy attends the International School, University
\nof Lagos.<\/p>\n
Eshiet and the 11 other finalists, took home their brand new laptop
\ncomputers to enable them to continue to work competitively in a world
\nthat is rapidly becoming fully digitalised.<\/p>\n
Congratulating all the winners at the final event of the competition,
\nthe Managing Director\/CEO of UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, applauded all
\nthe participants for their exceptional brilliance.\u00a0 She explained that
\nthe Foundation had taken into consideration the effect that the Covid-19
\npandemic has had on lives and incomes across the board and had increased
\nthe prize money by 33 per cent this year to help cushion any negative or
\ninflationary effects.<\/p>\n
Emphasising the driving force behind the annual competition, she said,
\n“We are passionate about the annual NEC because it changes lives and
\nhelps to improve the quality of lives of students and their families.
\nThe NEC helps to improve the quality of writing and competitiveness
\namongst students. We have launched in more African countries this year
\nand would have launched the initiative in 20 countries by the end of
\n2021. It is not just about writing essays, the ripple effect is really
\nquite enormous, and we are glad that it is cascading to other countries
\nwhere we operate.’ she said.<\/p>\n
Also speaking at the opening of the event, the Group Managing
\nDirector\/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka,
\ncommended all 12 finalists, expressing that UBA was happy to be touching
\nlives and making a solid impact through its National Essay Competition,
\nwhich is now in its 10th edition.\u00a0 He was very pleased about the fact
\nthat more females again came out tops this year, adding that
\nnotwithstanding the constraints and challenges of 2020, the Foundation
\nreceived the highest number of entries ever, at over 12,000 digital
\nsubmissions’.<\/p>\n
Uzoka who is also the Chairman, UBA Foundation said, “The NEC has been
\nchanging lives positively for 10 years, and we have awarded scholarships
\nto students not just in Nigeria but in other parts of Africa like Ghana,
\nSierra Leone and Senegal.\u00a0 Some of these students are already graduates
\nand contributing meaningfully to their communities’.<\/p>\n
To all 12 of you that have emerged finalists, I would like to
\ncongratulate you. If out of 12,000 entries you were able to make it to
\nthe top 12, that represents about 0.12% of the entries. You are no
\ndoubt, already a winner,” he continued.<\/p>\n
UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition is an initiative under the
\nEducation pillar of the Foundation. Now in its tenth year, the aim of
\nthe NEC is to ensure that more African youths have access to education.
\nThe programme also highlights the good quality of education that exists
\non the continent as it stresses that the grant must be used in any
\nuniversity of the winners’ choice on the African continent.<\/p>\n
2020 UBAF TOP 12 FINALISTS<\/p>\n
S\/N
\nNAME<\/p>\n
POSITION
\n1
\nEshiet Abasiekeme Eshiet<\/p>\n
1st
\n2
\nMofuluwake Adesanya<\/p>\n
2nd
\n3
\nAbdulganiyu Habeeba<\/p>\n
3rd
\n4
\nEmenugha Hannah Amarachi<\/p>\n
4th
\n5
\nIbem Marylyn Anya<\/p>\n
5th
\n6
\nEhibor Favour<\/p>\n
6th
\n7
\nNwabueze Regina Ugochi<\/p>\n
6th
\n8
\nDimaro Tamarapreye<\/p>\n
7th
\n9
\nOzoke Melvin Damian Uchenna<\/p>\n
8th
\n10
\nEnobong Flourish David<\/p>\n
9th
\n11
\nChukwuma Light E. C.<\/p>\n
10th
\n12
\nStephen God’s Grant<\/p>\n
11th<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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