About this opportunity
UBA Foundation has opened the 2026 edition of its National Essay Competition, a writing contest for senior secondary school students in Nigeria. The Foundation runs it every year as part of its education work, with the aim of building a reading culture and giving young people a healthy, intellectual contest to enter. The 2026 topic asks students to look hard at the country's food supply: No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?
Five winners share awards worth 41 million Naira. First place takes 15 million Naira, second place 10 million Naira, third place 7.5 million Naira, fourth place 5 million Naira and fifth place 3.5 million Naira. The figures are published by UBA Foundation on the competition page, and the money is given to the students who win.
The competition moves in two stages. The first stage is the call for entries, from which 20 essays are chosen. Those 20 then sit a final physical test, and five winners come out of that round. Entries go in through an online form, where students upload an essay written by hand, no longer than 750 words, since typed work is not accepted, along with a recent passport photograph and a scan of a birth certificate, National Identity Card or international passport.
This one is for Nigerian senior secondary school students, so a young person in the senior secondary years of a Nigerian school is exactly who the contest is written for. Free entry, no fee at any stage. The form sits on Google Forms and asks students to sign in with a Google account before they answer, so it is worth having that ready, along with the essay and the documents, before the closing date of 23 October 2026.
What you receive
- Awards worth 41 million Naira shared by the five winners.
- 15 million Naira for the first place winner.
- 10 million Naira for second place and 7.5 million Naira for third place.
- 5 million Naira for fourth place and 3.5 million Naira for fifth place.
- National recognition for the winning students and their schools.
- A chance to be among the 20 essays shortlisted even without a top five place.
- Encouragement to build reading, research and writing habits while still in secondary school.
Who can apply
- You must be a Nigerian citizen.
- You must be a senior secondary school student in Nigeria.
- You must write the essay by hand in your own handwriting.
- Your essay must stay within 750 words and answer the 2026 topic on food security.
- You must upload a recent passport photograph.
- You must upload a scanned birth certificate, National Identity Card or international passport.
- You must complete the online entry form in full.
Who should not apply
- Typed essays are not accepted.
- Students outside the senior secondary years in Nigeria are not covered by this edition.
- Essays longer than 750 words fall outside the rules.
- Entries without a passport photograph or an identity document are incomplete.
- Applicants outside Nigeria cannot enter this competition.
Documents to prepare
- A handwritten essay of no more than 750 words on the 2026 topic.
- A recent passport photograph.
- A scanned birth certificate, National Identity Card or international passport.
- A completed online entry form.
How to apply
- Open the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition page at https://www.ubagroup.com/our-impact/uba-foundation/national-essay-competition/ and read the current notes on the 2026 edition.
- Write your essay on the 2026 topic by hand, keeping within 750 words.
- Take a recent passport photograph and scan your birth certificate, National Identity Card or international passport.
- Sign in with your Google account and complete the entry form at https://forms.gle/Xc6NJnd7Uqh4UioT8, uploading the handwritten essay, the photograph and the identity document.
- Check every answer and every upload before you send the form, then submit before 23 October 2026.
Selection process
- Stage one is the call for entries, where submitted essays are read and the 20 best are selected.
- The 20 shortlisted students take part in a final physical test.
- Five winners are chosen from that final round.
- The awards are given to the top five in order: 15 million, 10 million, 7.5 million, 5 million and 3.5 million Naira.
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
Who can enter the 2026 National Essay Competition?
Nigerian senior secondary school students. You need to be in the senior secondary years of a school in Nigeria.
What is the essay topic for 2026?
The topic set by UBA Foundation is: No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?
How long should the essay be?
No more than 750 words, written by hand. Typed essays are not accepted.
What do I upload with my essay?
A recent passport photograph and a scanned copy of your birth certificate, National Identity Card or international passport.
When does the competition close?
Entries are accepted up to 23 October 2026.
What do the winners receive?
The top five receive 15 million, 10 million, 7.5 million, 5 million and 3.5 million Naira, which comes to 41 million Naira in awards.
How are the five winners chosen?
The first stage picks the 20 best essays from the entries received. Those 20 then sit a final physical test, and five winners come out of that round.
Does the entry form need a Google account?
Yes. The form asks you to sign in with a Google account before you can answer, so set that up before you start filling it in.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entering the competition is free at every stage.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
