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UBA Awards N15m University Grant to 15-Year-Old Essay Competition Winner
UBA Awards N15m University Grant to 15-Year-Old Essay Competition Winner
Khaira Ojima Bala of Abuja emerged as the winner of the 16th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition.
The second- and third-place winners received N10m and N7.5m, respectively.
Total educational grants increased by 82 per cent to N41m, with five students benefiting.
November 11, () – A 15-year-old student of Metro International School, Abuja, Khaira Ojima Bala, has won the 16th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, receiving a N15m educational grant to study at any university in Africa.
Bala was announced as the overall winner at the competition’s grand finale held on Tuesday at UBA House, Marina, Lagos. This year’s edition attracted more than 15,000 entries from senior secondary school students across Nigeria.
Unwanabasi Otobon Udom of Topfaith International Secondary School came second and received a N10m grant, while Flourish Chibunumoma Ndamzi of University of Port Harcourt Women Association International Secondary School placed third with N7.5m.
God’sfavour Ezekiel Udo of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, finished fourth and received N5m, while Uchenna Olivia Anyanwu of Coral Impacts International School, Abuja, placed fifth with N3.5m.
Grants increase to N41m
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The 20 finalists were selected from submissions on the topic, “No nation can develop without food security. How can Nigeria deal with this problem?” They also participated in a one-day writing boot camp facilitated by the competition’s judges.
The total educational grants for the 2026 edition rose to N41m from N22.5m in 2025, representing an 82 percent increase. The adjustment followed an expansion in the number of beneficiaries from three to five and an increase in the grant amounts.
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All 20 finalists also received laptops to support their academic work and research, while their UBA accounts were credited with N20,000 each as a token of appreciation from the bank’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba.
Bala dedicated her victory to her parents, acknowledging their sacrifices towards her education.
“I am so happy right now. My parents have sacrificed so much for my education, and this award belongs to them as much as it belongs to me,” she said.
She also thanked the UBA Foundation for providing young Nigerians with a platform to express their ideas.
UBA Group CEO Oliver Alawuba Photo credit UBA
UBA says investment supports education
Speaking at the event, Alawuba congratulated the finalists, saying their selection from more than 15,000 participants reflected their hard work, curiosity and determination.
He said the increase in grant amounts was informed partly by rising education costs and inflation, which have made it more difficult for families to finance university education.
Alawuba added that the foundation would consider introducing writing workshops for participating schools to improve students’ writing skills, confidence and critical thinking.
The Managing Director of UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, said the competition had supported students pursuing university education and helped develop their intellectual abilities over its 16 editions.
She disclosed that the foundation had spent more than N3bn on the competition over the past 16 years.
According to her, increasing the number of winners and the value of grants would enable more students to access higher education.
The UBA Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa. Its National Essay Competition, launched in Nigeria in 2011, has expanded to other African countries where the bank operates, as part of its interventions in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
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