15-year old Usongobong Paul from Akwa Ibom State has emerged as the overall winner of the 2022 Edition of the UBA Foundation’s annual National Essay Competition (NEC).
Paul, a student of the Federal Government Girls College Ikot-Obio Itong, Akwa-Ibom beat 11 other finalists to clinch the best prize at the 12th edition of the UBA Foundation’s Essay competition which had over 5,000 entries from students of Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.
She went home with a scholarship worth N5 million to study at any African university of her choice while she also received a brand-new state-of the-art laptop, amongst other prizes at the grand finale which was held at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre, UBA House in Lagos on Monday.
Paul said she was excited to have come top in the competition, adding that the experience has helped increase her confidence levels.
“I am so grateful to UBA Foundation for this great opportunity. It has helped me believe in myself and bolstered my confidence. This scholarship will go a long way towards achieving my dream to become an ophthalmologist. The opportunity has changed my life and I really appreciate UBA and the UBA Foundation,” she said.
The teenager will also be supported throughout her educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the UBA Foundation.
The second prize was awarded to Princess Sholabomi, a 15-year-old student of Value Spring College, Lagos State, who won a N3 million educational grant and a laptop, while the third prize of N2.5 million and a brand-new laptop went to 15-year-old Sharon Nwajiaku of Ota Total Academy, Ogun State.
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The other nine finalists, which included only one boy, also received brand new laptops as well as consolation prizes and learning materials.
Speaking, the UBA Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who presented the prize to Usongobong, said the bank remains committed to the youth who he described as the future of the continent.
Alawuba stated: “As a bank, we are interested in empowering our youth, and to do this, we must educate them and provide them with enabling avenues such as the UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition. We have launched these initiatives in all the 20 countries where UBA has presence.
“I was in Sierra Leone a few weeks ago where the NEC was held, and I was really encouraged by the enthusiasm and participation I witnessed there. Since we at UBA know that our future lies with our kids, UBA will continue to provide the necessary enablement which will help them take Africa to the world where it needs to be.”
On his part, the chairman of the board of trustees of the UBA Foundation, Kennedy Uzoka, congratulated the 12 finalists, adding that UBA has been touching lives and making a solid impact through the UBA Foundation and has produced hundreds of winners, some of who he said have long graduated from higher schools and who have continued to impact their communities.
The MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, who also congratulated the winners commended them for their exceptional brilliance.
Atta stated that the bank’s foundation is committed to giving back to communities where it operates, saying: “Education in any capacity remains one of the Foundation’s focus area as it is the bedrock of any nation. We have been focused on improving the reading culture amongst students, to foster growth and learning.
“So today, we would like to congratulate all 12 finalists, because you are all winners, having been selected from over 5,000 entries,” she said.
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