Usongobong Paul, 15, from Akwa-Ibom State, has become the overall winner of the 2022 edition of the UBA Foundation’s Annual National Essay Contest (NEC).
Usongobong, a student from Ikot-Obio Itong Federal Government Girls College, Akwa-Ibom, beat out 11 other finalists to win the best prize in the competition, which saw more than 5,000 high school student entries from around the world. country.
The UBA Foundation is the CSR arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. The foundation as a scholarship program is currently in its 12th year.
Benefits: She was announced as the winner of a scholarship worth N5m to study at any African university of her choice, as well as a new state-of-the-art laptop, among other gifts, at the NEC 2022 Grand Final, held in the Tony Elumelu Amphitheater at Casa UBA on Monday.
Usongobong, who was escorted to the event by her ICT teacher, Akanyere Divinelove Chigozie, said she was excited to have risen to the top of the competition, adding that the experience has boosted her confidence.
- “I am very grateful to the UBA Foundation for this opportunity. It has helped me believe in myself and bolster my confidence. This scholarship will go a long way in helping me in my dream of becoming an ophthalmologist. This opportunity has changed my life and I thank the UBA and the UBA Foundation for this”, she said.
You will also be supported throughout your educational career and beyond with constant mentorship from the UBA Foundation.
Second prize went to Princess Sholabomi, 15, from Value Spring College, Lagos. She won an educational scholarship of N3,000,000 and a laptop; while the third prize of N2,500,000 and a new laptop went to Sharon Nwajiaku, 15, from Ota Total Academy, Ogun State. The other 9 finalists, which included just one child, also received new laptops and consolation prizes, including books and other learning materials.
empowering youth: Managing Director/CEO of UBA Group, Oliver Alawuba, said the bank continues to bet on young people, who are the future of the continent.
- “As a bank, we are interested in empowering our youth, and in order to do this, we must educate them, through efforts like these. The truth is that we are launching these programs in the 20 countries where the UBA has a presence. Some of these countries have already started. I was in Sierra Leone a few weeks ago where the NEC was held, and I was buoyed by the enthusiasm and participation. As in the UBA we know that our future lies in our children, they will take Africa to the world where it should be”; the GMD declared.
The President of the UBA Foundation, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, who congratulated the 12 finalists, said that the UBA has been touching lives and having a solid impact through the UBA Foundation and has produced hundreds of winners, some of whom they have graduated from high schools and have been making an impact in their communities.
- He said, “I congratulate everyone for being a part of this event. We established this competition more than 12 years ago, because we saw the need to allow students to express themselves and transmit their ideas, and over the years we have seen that we are doing something very unique and truly African. We have given scholarships to more than 60 students and we have been able to produce doctors, engineers and lawyers through this platform”, Uzoka said.
UBA Foundation MD/CEO Bola Atta also congratulated the winners and praised them for their exceptional brilliance.
- “Every student who sits in an entrance is a winner. Being confident in your writing skills and ambitious enough to enter a competition to further enhance your educational path is laudable. For those who didn’t finish first this year, I’d say don’t get discouraged. Take it as a challenge to hone your writing skills and enter the competition again next year.” she said.
Improve reading culture: He explained that the UBA Foundation has the duty to give back to the communities where UBA operates. Education in any capacity, he noted, remains the foundation’s focus area as it is the foundation of any nation, adding: “We have been trying to improve the culture of reading among students, while also fostering growth and learning. So today we want to congratulate the 12 finalists, because you are all winners, having been selected from over 7,000 entries.
- “The UBA Foundation National Essay Contest has been taken to other African countries, including Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Guinea, with more African countries to follow in 2022.
- The UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the UBA Group, is committed to the socioeconomic improvement of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in the areas of education, the environment, economic empowerment, and special projects.” she said.
The UBA Foundation is the CSR arm of the Global Bank for Africa, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. The UBA Foundation Education initiative has been changing lives for over a decade as the scholarship program, currently in its 12th year, continues to impact the lives of many students and their communities at large.
… 15-year-old girl wins the UBA Foundation National Essay Contest 2022 Read more at … Naijaonpoint.