Fourteen-year-old Divine Odjegba has emerged winner of the 2018 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, carting away a brand new laptop as well as educational grant worth N2million to study in any African university of her choice.
Odjegba, a student of the International High School, Delta State, clinched the first position at the grand finale, which was held on Monday at UBA House, Marina Lagos.
She beat 11 other finalists selected from over 6,000 entries received by the UBA Foundation from students of senior secondary schools across Nigeria. This year’s edition saw over 500 per cent increase in participation from pupils across every single state of the federation.
A visibly elated Odjegba, who was escorted by her mother, said she was excited to have come top in the competition, adding that the experience has given her the confidence that she can face great challenges and emerge a winner.
Winning the competition, she said, would help her pursue her childhood dreams of becoming a gynaecologist.
“This is something I prayed about and worked hard to achieve. I was in shock to hear my name announced as the winner and my mother and I cried for joy.
“I am indeed very grateful to UBA and the Foundation for this huge opportunity and making me believe in myself. This grant will go a long way to support my bid for quality education,” she said.
The second prize went to Halimat Ozemoka, 15, of University Preparatory Secondary School, Edo State.
She received a N1.5million educational grant and a laptop.
The third prize of N1million and a brand new lap top went to Christopher Adiankpo, a 16-year-old student of Nigerian Christian Institute, Akwa Ibom State.
The other nine finalists all received brand new laptops.
Managing director/Chief executive officer of UBA Foundation Bola Atta, while congratulating the winners commended them for their exceptional brilliance.
“Every student who sent in an entry is a winner. To be confident about your writing skills and ambitious enough to enter a competition to further enhance your educational path is laudable.
“For those that did not win, I would say do not be discouraged. Take it as a challenge to perfect your writing skills and enter for the competition again in 2019” she said.
In his remarks, managing director/chief executive officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Kennedy Uzoka said the bank is happy that it is touching lives and making a solid impact through this competition and the grant it gives out annually to those who emerge winners.
“We have indeed noted the increase in the cost of living and have therefore increased the prize money by 100 per cent in all the categories.
“Seeing past winners tell their stories on the impact the grants have made on their education and particularly how the financial burden was lifted off their parents, gives us joy that our foundation is unique and deeply touching lives,” Uzoka said.
He specifically mentioned the Each One Teach One initiative – the foundation’s latest initiative where thousands of UBA staff members gave back to their communities across Africa, by imparting knowledge to students and the less privileged.
