Only digitally sent applications will be evaluated, according to the Foundation.
One of Nigeria's top financial organizations, United Bank for Africa, has urged secondary school students all around the nation to provide their ideas for how to break the current impasse between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on strike and the government through its Foundation.
The finest well-written recommendation, according to the bank, will receive a scholarship of N5 million, with the second and third places receiving N3 and N2.5 million, respectively.
This is a component of the 2022 edition of the UBA Foundation's yearly national essay competition.
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The participating students can accomplish this by writing about the essay's subject, which is; "Nigerian pupils have frequently lost time due to ASUU strikes. Give the Nigerian government advice on how to work out a deal with ASUU to advance tertiary education there."
In a news release signed by the Head of Media and External Relations, Ramon Nasir, the Foundation—supposed to be the bank's corporate social responsibility arm—also reported that the price money had grown by 40% compared to prior years.
However, it made clear that only applications sent electronically would be considered.
higher prize money
According to the statement, the Foundation has been increasing the rewards for the previous three years to reflect economic realities.
"Up from N3.5 million in 2021, the first-place winner will now earn a scholarship worth N5 million to attend any African university of their choice. Education grants for the second and third places have increased from N2.5 million and N2 million, respectively, to N3 million and N2.5 million, respectively "It read.
It further stated that the 12 best essay winners will receive brand-new laptops and other educational resources to aid in their tertiary research and other academic endeavors.
He clarified that the yearly competition is a component of the UBA Foundation's education initiative, which, according to him, aims to encourage healthy and intellectual competition among senior secondary school students in Nigeria and throughout the African continent, as well as to promote literacy.
Since they may now easily submit their submissions from the comfort of their homes or schools via the UBAF NEC digital submission platform, more Senior Secondary School students from all over Nigeria would participate in this year's event, the 12th edition, he claimed.
More can now apply.
Bola Atta, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, said more secondary school students across the nation will have the opportunity to scan and submit their entries and compete to win educational grants for study at any university of their choice on the continent thanks to the digital submission portal.
"Over the years, we have worked hard to make sure that our UBA Foundation programs continue to have a meaningful impact on lives," she said. We are aware that digitally driven initiatives are a part of today's world, and we want to connect with students where they are most at ease.
Every high school student in Nigeria who so chooses will be able to participate the NEC 2022 and be eligible to win a completely paid-for university education through the UBA Foundation.
According to the Foundation, all essays must be written by hand, without the use of a typewriter. Interested students have until October 14 to upload scanned copies of their handwritten contributions as well as their identity cards to the online application.
No physical copies will be allowed this year, it stated.
"Judges from reputable Nigerian universities who are academics will assess the submissions. The top 12 finalists, who will get consolation prizes such personal laptops, will be chosen by the academics. The top three winners will be announced at the grand finale, which will be held in November at UBA's headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, during which these 12 finalists will compose another essay under supervision "explained the Foundation.
The competition has been launched in other African nations where UBA does business "to open up the possibility for more African youth," according to UBA.
