13-Year-Old Student Wins UBA Foundation’s N10 Million Essay Competition Prize

On Tuesday, a significant milestone was achieved in Lagos as 13-year-old Ebunoluwa Seth Oluwatimilehin, a student at Igando Community Senior High School in the Igando area, won the 15th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition.

This victory makes him the youngest winner in the history of the competition, which has been held for 15 years.

Ebunoluwa, currently in SS2, also distinguished himself by becoming the first male winner in more than eight years, a period during which female participants have predominantly won.

As the grand prize winner, he has been awarded a substantial educational grant of N10 million to support his future studies at any African higher institution of his choice.

Following his win, Ebunoluwa expressed his gratitude and excitement, remarking, “I am incredibly grateful and overwhelmed. This competition has shown me that passion and hard work truly pay off.”

It has been an amazing journey that has deepened my love for writing and expressing my ideas.”

The second-place winner, Njoku-Kelechi Emerald of Christian International High School, Owerri, received a N7.5m educational grant, while the third-place prize of N5m educational grant was awarded to Bayero Fatima Auwal of Cornerstone Montessori Schools, Gudu, Abuja.

In addition to the monetary grants for the top three winners, all 12 finalists were awarded brand-new laptops and other educational materials to support their academic pursuits.

The 2025 edition received several thousand entries, with significant participation extending beyond major cities into rural communities across the country.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who commended the Foundation’s 15-year commitment to the initiative, explained the competition’s strategic role in reviving a culture of reading and writing among youth.