UBA Essay Competition 2026: Apply and Win Up to ₦15 Million
UBA offers ₦41m in 2026 essay competition prizes
Nigerian senior secondary school students have another opportunity to compete for university education grants as the 2026 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition opens for entries, with a total prize package of ₦41 million available to winners.
The annual competition is designed to test students’ writing, research and critical-thinking abilities while providing financial support for higher education.
For the 2026 edition, students have been asked to write on the topic: “No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”
The competition is open to eligible Nigerian senior secondary school students, and entries must meet specific requirements, including a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words.
The deadline for submission is October 23, 2026.
UBA National Essay Competition 2026 prize money
The biggest attraction for many applicants is the educational grant attached to the competition.
The 2026 prizes are structured as follows:
- Winner: ₦15 million educational grant
- Second place: ₦10 million
- Third place: ₦7.5 million
- Fourth place: ₦5 million
- Fifth place: ₦3.5 million
The five positions amount to ₦41 million in educational grants.
The first-place award represents a significant increase from the previous year’s top prize. The 2025 competition offered a ₦10 million grant to the winner, while the 2026 edition raises that amount to ₦15 million. The expansion also means fourth- and fifth-place contestants receive educational grants under the current structure.
Who can apply for the 2026 UBA essay competition?
The competition is specifically targeted at Nigerian senior secondary school students.
Applicants must be Nigerian students currently at the senior secondary school level and must complete the application process with the required supporting documents.
The UBA Foundation has organised the National Essay Competition as part of its education initiatives, with the broader goal of developing students’ intellectual and writing abilities. The competition has been running annually since 2011.
This means the opportunity is not designed for university students, graduates or international applicants applying from outside Nigeria.
2026 UBA essay competition topic
The essay question for this year’s competition is:
“No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”
The topic gives students room to examine one of Nigeria’s major development challenges from different angles.
A strong entry could discuss food production, agricultural productivity, climate-related challenges, access to farm inputs, storage and transportation, food prices, insecurity in farming communities, irrigation, agricultural technology and government policies.
Students should pay attention to the wording of the question. The competition is asking not only for an explanation of food insecurity but also for practical ways Nigeria can address the problem.
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UBA essay competition requirements for 2026
Applicants must provide several items as part of their application.
The requirements include:
- Nigerian senior secondary school status
- A completed application form
- A recent passport photograph
- A scanned copy of an accepted means of identification
- A handwritten essay of no more than 750 words
The accepted identification documents listed by UBA Foundation include a birth certificate, National ID or international passport.
The essay must be handwritten rather than typed. This is one of the requirements applicants need to pay close attention to before submitting their entries.
How many words should the UBA essay be?
The essay must contain no more than 750 words.
Students should resist the temptation to exceed the limit in an attempt to provide more arguments.
The better approach is to use the available space effectively, with a clear introduction, well-developed points and a strong closing argument.
Since the competition is assessing writing and intellectual ability, students should also check their spelling, grammar, sentence structure and overall presentation before uploading the handwritten entry.
How to apply for UBA National Essay Competition 2026
Eligible students can apply through the UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition platform.
The application process requires candidates to complete the online form and upload the required materials.
Applicants should:
- Confirm that they are Nigerian senior secondary school students.
- Prepare a handwritten essay on the 2026 topic.
- Keep the essay within the 750-word maximum.
- Scan the handwritten essay clearly.
- Prepare a recent passport photograph.
- Prepare a scanned birth certificate, National ID or international passport.
- Complete the application form.
- Upload the required documents before submitting the application.
Students should review every uploaded document before completing the submission to ensure that the scans are readable and that the essay is complete.
When is the UBA essay competition 2026 deadline?
The deadline for the 2026 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition is October 23, 2026.
Students who meet the requirements should not wait until the final day to prepare their entries.
The official UBA Foundation competition page currently lists October 23 as the application deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the UBA National Essay Competition 2026?
The competition is open to Nigerian senior secondary school students who meet the application requirements set by UBA Foundation.
What is the topic for the 2026 UBA essay competition?
The 2026 topic is: “No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?”
How much is the UBA essay competition prize?
The 2026 competition has ₦41 million in educational grants across the five winning positions. The winner receives ₦15 million, while the second, third, fourth and fifth positions receive ₦10 million, ₦7.5 million, ₦5 million and ₦3.5 million respectively.
What is the word limit for the UBA essay competition?
Applicants must submit a handwritten essay of 750 words or fewer.
Can I type my UBA essay?
No. The 2026 requirements specify that the essay must be handwritten, not typed. The handwritten entry must then be scanned and uploaded during the application process.
What documents are needed for the UBA essay competition?
Applicants need a completed application form, a recent passport photograph and a scanned birth certificate, National ID or international passport, in addition to the handwritten essay.
When is the UBA National Essay Competition 2026 deadline?
The deadline is October 23, 2026.
Can university students apply for the UBA essay competition?
No. The competition is targeted at Nigerian senior secondary school students rather than university students or graduates.
How many students will receive UBA educational grants in 2026?
Five winners are listed for the 2026 Nigerian competition, with educational grants ranging from ₦3.5 million for fifth place to ₦15 million for the overall winner.
Is the UBA essay competition free to enter?
The published application requirements do not list an entry fee. Applicants should use the official competition application channel and avoid paying third parties who claim they can secure a winning position.
How can students improve their chances in the UBA essay competition?
Students should answer the exact essay question, stay within the 750-word limit, present original arguments, support their points with relevant Nigerian realities and carefully proofread their work before submission.