The second prize was clinched by another 15year old, Princess Sholabomi of Value Spring College, Lagos. She went away with a N3 million educational grant and a laptop, while 15year old Sharon Nwajiaku of Ota Total Academy, Ogun State came in third with an educational grant worth N2.5 million and a laptop. Brand new laptops and other school items were presented to the other 9 finalists as consolation prizes.

UBA Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who presented the prize to Usongobong Paul, stated the Bank’s commitment to the development of African youths by continuing to “provide the necessary enablement which will help them take Africa to the world where it needs to be.” He further stated that the Bank has launched “these initiatives in all the 20 countries where UBA has presence.”

The Chairman of the board of trustees of the UBA Foundation, Mr. 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 whom have long graduated from higher institutions and who have continued to impact their communities.

The MD/CEO of UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, also congratulated the winners and commended them for their exceptional brilliance. She said, “every student who sent in an entry is a winner.” She encouraged those who did not come first to “take it as a challenge” to perfect their writing skills and re-enter the competition next year.

The competition which is in its 12^th edition has continued to change the lives of students across Africa through education. Interestingly, this year’s competition saw an increase in the number of participants from the Northern part of the country.