Winners Emerge In UBA NEC Competition, As GMD Extols Values Of Reading

1
2015 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 5
l-r: Overall Winner of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for secondary schools, Miss Emediong Uduak Uko of British Nigerian Academy, Abuja (middle) flanked by 2nd prize winner Miss Enonuoya Starish of Lagoon School Lagos (right) and 3rd prize winner Miss Eze Ugochinyere Golden of Living World Academy Aba, during the Grand finale and prize giving ceremony held at UBA House in Lagos on Monday.

 

Winners have emerged in the fifth edition of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.

In a keenly contested competition, Miss Emediong Uduak Uko, a 15 year old student of British Nigerian Academy, Abuja, won the coveted prize of N1m education grant.

Emediong emerged the winner from over 3,326 entries received across the country.

Starish Ugie-Oritse-Ete Enonuya of The Lagoon School, Lagos and Eze Ugochinyere Golden of Living Word Academy School, Abia, emerged first and second runner ups, winning N750,000 and N500,000 educational grants respectively.

Speaking during the event at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, GMD, Phillips Oduoza, commended all the participants and the schools for encouraging the students.

Oduoza explained that the digital age of technology called for increased interest in reading culture among youths, adding that this had led to the decision of UBA, through its foundation, to begin the Essay Competition.

He said, “UBA Foundation believes in sustainability and in supporting of the environment where we operate, and that is why we have earmarked a certain percentage of our profit to this end.

 

2015 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 4
l-r: GMD/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza with winners of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for secondary schools – Miss Eze Ugochinyere Golden of Living World Academy Aba (3rd prize), Miss Emediong Uduak Uko of British Nigerian Academy (1st Prize) and Miss Enonuoya Starish of Lagoon School Lagos (2nd Prize) during the Grand finale and prize giving ceremony held at UBA House in Lagos on Monday.

He noted that the competition which started in 2011 in Nigeria had also be extended to Ghana and Senegal which had also produced winners in the last few years.

Stressing the nuggets for success, he said, “Reading is essential to broaden your knowledge and horizon and most importantly youths should maintain self-discipline and ensure that they determine their career part and get mentors to assist them in their goals.

He also explained that the bank remains committed to dedicating resources towards grooming world leaders, because UBA believes so much in the youth and their ultimate success.

On her part, the MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Miss Ijeoma Aso, commended the participants and expressed delight at the increase level of participation recorded this year.

2015 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition 1
Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Ms. Ijeoma Aso, GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and DMD, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka with the winners of 2015 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition- 1st prize winner Miss Emediong Uduak Uko of British Nigerian Academy, Abuja (middle) ; 2nd prize winner Miss Enonuoya Starish of Lagoon School Lagos (right); and 3rd prize winner Miss Eze Ugochinyere Golden of Living World Academy Aba, during the grand finale and prize giving ceremony held at UBA House in Lagos on Monday.

 

The 12 finalists selected by a panel of judges made up of professors from reputable Nigerian Universities are; Ayomide Omole; Udochukwu Melvin Okonkwo; Emediong Uduak Uko; Jonathan Favour; Obiabunmo Precious and Starish Ugie-Oritse-Ete Enonuya. Others are Comfort Macaulay Uwem; Dada Oluwatobi Joshua; Osagiede Omosefe; Olaoye Promise Oluwatobiloba; Eze Ugochinyere Golden and Peter G Okon.

Each of the 12 finalists received a laptop as a consolation prize for getting to the final of the competition.

As a the CSR platform for the UBA Group, UBA Foundation works through four areas of focus, education, economic empowerment, environment and special project. Communities across Nigeria and other parts of the continent continue to benefit from the foundation through these focus areas.

 

1 Comment
  1. Bomi says

    I remember when I was young, in the 80’s and 90’s, this kind of programmes keeps high school students competitive, every school prepared their best students or group of students for quiz and debate, I miss those days.
    Most multinational company this days only promotes musical competition and entertainment, that’s why most of our youth performed woefully.
    Thumbs up to UBA for bringing back the good old days…

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.