Lagos made history on Tuesday as 13-year-old Ebunoluwa Seth Oluwatimilehin of Igando Community Senior High School, Lagos, emerged as the overall winner of the 15th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC), becoming the youngest winner in the competition’s 15-year history.

Ebunoluwa, a public school student in SS2, also became the first male winner in over eight years. He received a ₦10 million educational grant for his future studies at any African higher institution of his choice.

The second-place winner, Njoku-Kelechi Emerald of Christian International High School, Owerri, received ₦7.5 million, while Bayero Fatima Auwal of Cornerstone Montessori Schools, Abuja, took third place with ₦5 million. All 12 finalists were awarded laptops and other educational materials.

Thousands of entries were received for the 2025 edition, with participation extending to both urban and rural communities across Nigeria.

UBA Group CEO Oliver Alawuba praised the Foundation’s 15-year commitment to fostering reading and writing among youth and emphasized the bank’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. “If you get diversity right in Africa, you have gotten the whole world right,” he said.

UBA Foundation CEO Bola Atta highlighted the importance of education in shaping Africa’s future, describing the essay competition as a cornerstone of the Foundation’s efforts to empower young Africans.

The UBA Foundation continues to run initiatives across Africa in education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and economic empowerment, reinforcing its commitment to socio-economic development in the communities it serves.