UBA Essay Competition 2025 Opens With ₦22.5m in Grants

The UBA Foundation has announced the start of its 2025 National Essay Competition, an annual contest that has become a major fixture for secondary school students across Nigeria. The call is open, the stage is set, and young minds are invited to put pen to paper.

This year’s theme touches on a topic close to the heart of the nation, urging students to look at our differences and think of how they can unite us rather than split us apart.

Essay Topic for UBA Essay Competition 2025

The theme for the 2025 edition is:

“Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”

The question is clear but heavy. It asks students to think about Nigeria’s rich cultural mix and share ways that young people can turn it into strength for unity, peace, and progress.

Prizes for UBA Essay Competition 2025

The UBA Foundation has put forward large grants to support the winners. The top three will walk away with the following:

• First Prize: ₦10 million educational grant
• Second Prize: ₦7.5 million educational grant
• Third Prize: ₦5 million educational grant

There will also be consolation prizes for other outstanding entries. All grants are meant to help winners further their studies at any African university of their choice.

Eligibility for UBA Essay Competition 2025

To take part, applicants must:

• Be Nigerian senior secondary school students.
• Fill out the online application form.
• Submit a handwritten essay not longer than 750 words.
• Upload a recent passport photograph.
• Provide a scanned copy of valid ID (Birth Certificate, National ID, or International Passport).

Missing documents or incomplete entries may lead to disqualification, so every box must be ticked.

How to Submit Application

Entries are to be sent through the UBA Foundation competition portal.

The deadline is Friday, 17 October 2025, which may sound far but time has a way of flying. Starting early gives room for corrections and avoids last-minute panic.

Final Note

The competition is more than a contest, it is a chance for students to show their ideas on how to stitch Nigeria tighter. With life-changing grants on the line, it is worth the effort to write with care, reflect deeply, and send in your best work.

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Meet The Author

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

Boasting over a decade of expertise in the education sector, Olusegun offers current insights into educational trends, career opportunities, and the latest news.

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