UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026: How to Apply; UBA Foundation is accepting entries for its 2026 National Essay Competition for Nigerian senior secondary school students. The competition offers educational grants to outstanding participants, with the first-place winner receiving ₦15 million.
Interested students must submit a scanned copy of a handwritten essay containing no more than 750 words. Typed essays will not be accepted.
The application deadline is 23 October 2026.
UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026 Prizes
The competition offers educational grants to the five winners as follows:
- First prize: ₦15 million.
- Second prize: ₦10 million.
- Third prize: ₦7.5 million.
- Fourth prize: ₦5 million.
- Fifth prize: ₦3.5 million.
Students interested in participating should carefully review the entry requirements and ensure their submissions meet the competition guidelines.
Entry Requirements for the UBA National Essay Competition
Applicants must provide complete contact information and upload the following documents:
- Handwritten essay: A scanned copy of the applicant’s handwritten essay, containing no more than 750 words. The applicant’s full name must be written on the essay.
- Passport photograph: A recent passport photograph of the applicant.
- Proof of identity: A scanned copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, national identity document or international passport.
All documents must be uploaded as attachments to the application form.
Document Naming and Submission Guidelines
Applicants must ensure that the filenames of their attachments contain their names and identify the type of document being submitted. For example, a passport photograph may be named “John Doe – Passport Photograph”.
Incomplete applications and duplicate entries will be disqualified. Applicants should therefore review their information and uploaded documents carefully before submitting their forms.
UBA Foundation Essay Competition Selection Process
Entries submitted for the 2026 National Essay Competition will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprising professors from Nigerian universities.
The selection process will involve the following stages:
- Essay assessment: The panel of judges will review the submitted essays.
- Shortlisting: Twenty finalists will be selected to proceed to the next stage.
- Physical assessment: The shortlisted finalists will participate in a physical assessment at the UBA Head Office in Lagos.
- Final selection: Five winners will be chosen based on the quality of their essays.
Participants should ensure that their essays are well-written, relevant to the competition topic and within the stipulated word limit.
How to Apply for the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026
Eligible Nigerian senior secondary school students can submit their entries by following these steps:
- Visit the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition application form.
- Enter the required personal and contact information.
- Write the essay by hand, ensuring that it does not exceed 750 words and that the applicant’s full name appears on it.
- Scan the handwritten essay and upload it alongside a recent passport photograph and a scanned birth certificate, national identity document or international passport.
- Ensure that the attachment filenames contain the applicant’s name and the relevant document type.
- Review all the information and uploaded documents before submitting the application.
Applicants must submit their completed entries on or before 23 October 2026. Typed essays, incomplete submissions and duplicate entries will be disqualified.
UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 2026 Deadline
The deadline for submitting entries for the 2026 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition is 23 October 2026.
Interested students can visit the official UBA Foundation National Essay Competition page for more information about the competition.
Applicants are advised to prepare their handwritten essays and required documents early to avoid errors or missing information during submission.
