It was an emotional grand finale at the United Bank for Africa Plcs Foundation National Essay Competition on Monday as three of the twelve finalists earlier shortlisted in the competition, were adjudged winners, after a second round of essay writing on Friday in Lagos.The twelve finalists were made to write another essay to enable the judges chose the final three that were unveiled at the ceremony.After the review of the essays, the judges unanimously chose the essay of fifteen year old Miss Enitan Amodu from the University of Lagos International School, Akoka, Lagos, as the best, thereby winning the competitions trophy and an educational grant of N1m to study in a Nigerian university of her choice.The second place went to fourteen year old Miss Orji Phillipa, from Dority International Secondary School, Aba in Abia State, who also won an educational grant of N750,000 to study in a Nigerian university while Miss Nwajiaku-Nwadike Vivian Nneka, a fourteen year old student of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, clinched the third position and also won an educational grant of N500,000.Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka who was represented at the ceremony by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi, commended the UBA Foundation for the initiative, stating that the gesture would spur young people to improve their intellectual and writing ability through reading. The essay competition according to the Deputy Managing Director, UBA, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, was designed to give back to the society and at the same time assist the educational development of youths. He said apart from utilising the scholarship grants in Nigerian universities, the winners automatically become UBA Scholars and Ambassadors in their respective institutions."Education is very strategic to us as an institution. Earlier on in the year, we donated books to students in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, under the Read Africa initiative to encourage and promote the reading culture in secondary schools," he added.According to the Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Miss Ijeoma Aso, the students were judged on content, organisation and mechanical accuracy in selecting the twelve finalists and the overall three winners from over a one thousand entries received nationwide. Apart from the grants, the twelve finalists received computer systems to use in the pursuit of their educational development.
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