A 15-year-old student of Metro International School, Abuja, Khaira Ojima Bala, has emerged as the overall winner of the 16th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC), clinching a ₦15 million university educational grant.
Announced at the grand finale held at UBA House, Marina, Lagos, Bala outshone more than 15,000 senior secondary school entrants across Nigeria. Her grant covers tuition and academic expenses at any African university of her choice.
16th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition Summary
| Parameter | Official Competition Details |
| Organizing Body | UBA Foundation (CSR Arm of United Bank for Africa Plc) |
| Edition & Venue | 16th Edition Grand Finale — UBA House, Marina, Lagos |
| Overall Winner | Khaira Ojima Bala (15), Metro International School, Abuja |
| Grand Prize Value | ₦15,000,000 University Educational Grant |
| Total Prize Pool | ₦41.5 Million (Expanded from ₦22.5 Million in 2025) |
| Total Entries & Finalists | Over 15,000 Entries; 20 Shortlisted Finalists |
| Essay Topic | “No Nation Can Develop Without Food Security. How Can Nigeria Deal With This Problem?” |
Complete Breakdown of 2026 Winners and Educational Grants
For the 16th edition, the UBA Foundation expanded its reward structure from three to five top winners—representing an 82% increase in total grant funding compared to the previous year:
| Position | Winner’s Name | School & State | Educational Grant |
| 1st Place | Khaira Ojima Bala | Metro International School, Abuja | ₦15,000,000 |
| 2nd Place | Unwanabasi Otobong Udom | Topfaith International Secondary School | ₦10,500,000 |
| 3rd Place | Flourish Chibunumoma Ndamzi | UNIPORT Women Association Int’l Sec. School | ₦7,500,000 |
| 4th Place | God’sfavour Ezekiel Udo | Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong | ₦5,000,000 |
| 5th Place | Uchenna Olivia Anyanwu | Coral Impacts International School, Abuja | ₦3,500,000 |
Additional Rewards and Stakeholder Highlights
- Digital Tools & Bank Credits for All Finalists: Beyond the top five university grants, all 20 shortlisted finalists received brand-new laptops to support their academic research. Additionally, UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, credited each finalist’s UBA account with ₦20,000.
- Writing Boot Camp: Prior to the final physical test, finalists participated in an intensive one-day writing boot camp facilitated by the competition’s panel of judges to refine their analytical and literary skills.
- Winner’s Reaction: Dedicating the victory to her parents, Khaira Bala expressed gratitude to the UBA Foundation for giving young Nigerian students a national platform to propose practical solutions to food security challenges.
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