CIPM Essay Competition 2026: Prizes, Rules, Deadline & Entry Guide

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria has opened entries for its 2026 Annual Essay Competition.

The contest invites undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary schools to examine a question many students already ask, even if they do not always say it aloud: does higher education prepare graduates for real work?

CIPM 2026 Essay Competition Topic

The essay topic is:

"Are Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Truly Preparing Students for the World of Work?"

CIPM wants entrants to write on this topic with clear arguments, proper referencing and a strong grasp of the subject. The essay must stay within the stated word limit.

Who Can Enter

Only undergraduates studying in Nigerian tertiary schools can take part.

Past winners cannot enter again. CIPM will only contact shortlisted candidates, so applicants should ensure their details are correct before sending their entries.

Essay Guidelines

CIPM requires each entry to meet these rules:

• The essay must not exceed 3,000 words.
• References must follow APA Style, 7th Edition.
• Applicants must use Times New Roman, 12-point font size.
• The work must be typed in double line spacing.
• Entries must be sent as an MS Word document only.
• Plagiarised work will lead to disqualification.

The rules are clear and entrants who ignore them may lose their chance before the essay gets proper attention.

Prizes for Winners

CIPM will reward the top three entries with cash prizes and HRM books.

All prize winners will also receive access to a network of employers.

CIPM will give free student membership registration to prize winners who are not yet members; winners will also get an all-expense paid trip to Abuja for the CIPM 2026 International Conference & Exhibitions.

Documents Needed for Submission

Applicants must submit their essay with the following items:

• ID card from the student's current school
• Copy of admission letter to the student's current school
• One recent passport-sized photograph
• Current mobile telephone number
• Email address

CIPM requires applicants to scan these documents and add them to the essay as one Microsoft Word document.

How to Submit Entries

Applicants must send the complete Microsoft Word document to:

essaycompetition@cipmnigeria.org

The file should contain the essay and all required documents. A separate or incomplete submission may cause problems for the applicant.

Deadline

The deadline for the CIPM 2026 Annual Essay Competition is Friday, 31 July 2026.

Students who plan to enter should prepare their essay, scan the required documents and send the full entry before the closing date.

Enquiries

For questions, applicants can contact CIPM through:

08160380205, 07025709873

essaycompetition@cipmnigeria.org

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This post is authored by Olusegun Fapohunda, the founder and editor of MySchoolGist.

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