A 15-year-old pupil of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong, Akwa-Ibom State, Usongobong Paul, has won the 2022 UBA Foundation annual national essay competition.
UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank of Africa, stated that it’s committed to the socio-economic development of the communities in which the bank operates by focusing on development in education, environment, economic empowerment and special projects.
Paul defeated 11 other finalists to clinch the best prize at the competition, which had over 5,000 entries from students of Senior Secondary Schools across the country.
She was announced as the winner of a scholarship worth N5 million to study in any African university of her choice, as well as a brand-new state-of the-art laptop among other goodies at the NEC 2022 Grand Finale, which held at the UBA House in Lagos on Monday.
Usongobong, who was accompanied to the event by her ICT teacher, Akanyere Divinelove Chigozie, said winning the contest has bolstered her confidence.
“I am so grateful to UBA Foundation for this great opportunity. It has helped me to believe in myself and bolstered my confidence. This scholarship will go a long way towards assisting in my dream to become an ophthalmologist. This opportunity has changed my life and I appreciate the UBA and the UBA Foundation for this,” she said.
She would also be supported throughout her educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the foundation.
The second prize was won by Princess Sholabomi of Value Spring College, Lagos. She won a N3,000,000 educational grant and a laptop; while the third prize of N2,500,000 and a brand-new laptop went to Sharon Nwajiaku of Ota Total Academy, Ogun State.
The other nine finalists, who included only one boy, also received brand new laptops as well as consolation prizes, including books and other learning materials.
UBA Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said the bank was committed to empowering youths.
“As a bank, we are interested in empowering our youth, and to do this, we must educate them, through efforts such as these. The truth is that we are launching these programmes in all the 20 countries where UBA has presence.
Since we know that our future lies with our kids, they will take Africa to the world where it needs to be,” he said.
Chairman of the foundation, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, who congratulated the 12 finalists, said UBA has been touching lives and making a great impact and has produced hundreds of winners, some of who have graduated from higher schools and have been impacting their communities.
He said: “We set up this competition over 12 years ago, because we saw the need to allow students to express themselves and convey their ideas, and over the years, we have seen that we are doing something very unique and truly African. We have given scholarships to over 60 students, and we have been able to produce doctors, engineers, lawyers through this platform.”
Managing Director of UBA Foundation, Bola Atta praised the winners for their brilliance. She urged those who didn’t win to perfect their writing skills and try harder next year.
“We have been trying to improve the reading culture among the students, while fostering growth and learning. So today, we want to congratulate all 12 finalists, because you are all winners, having been selected from over 7,000 entries,” she said.
The National Essay Competition has been taken to other African countries including Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea, with more African countries coming on board in 2022.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
