13-Year-Old Ebunoluwa Seth Triumphs in 15th UBA Foundation Essay Competition!

Table of Contents

1. Youngest Winner of UBA Foundation National Essay Competition
2. Prizes for Winners
3. Participation in the Competition
4. Comments from UBA's CEO
5. UBA Foundation's Commitment
6. Philanthropic Initiatives of UBA Foundation

History was made in Lagos on Tuesday, as 13-year-old Ebunoluwa Seth Oluwatimilehin, from Igando Community Senior High School, Igando, a suburb of Lagos, was crowned the overall winner of the 15th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC), becoming the youngest winner in the fifteen-year history of the competition.

Master Ebunoluwa, a public school student in SS2, also became the first male winner in over eight years, breaking the trend of female winners who have frequently dominated the competition. He was awarded a grand prize of N10 million in educational grants to support his future studies at any higher education institution in Africa of his choice.

Overjoyed, Ebunoluwa shared his excitement, stating, “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 an educational grant of N7.5 million, while the third-place prize of N5 million was awarded to Fatima Auwal Bayero of Cornerstone Montessori Schools, Gudu, Abuja.

In addition to the cash grants for the top three winners, all 12 finalists were presented with brand-new laptops and other educational resources to aid their academic journeys.

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

UBA’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, praised the Foundation’s 15-year dedication to this initiative, explaining the competition’s essential role in reviving a culture of reading and writing among youth.

Highlighting the bank’s broader mission and the importance of the essay topic, he stated, “UBA promotes diversity. No one at UBA will ever be judged based on ethnicity, religion, or culture. We view diversity as a strength. In fact, if you get diversity right in Africa, you have succeeded globally.”

Alawuba commended the finalists for embodying this principle in their essays and imparting valuable lessons in fostering a united community.

Bola Atta, the Managing Director and CEO of UBA Foundation, expressed sincere gratitude to all stakeholders, reaffirming the significance of education as a cornerstone for Africa's future.

“For 15 years, this initiative has been a fundamental part of our commitment to giving back and empowering the youth. We are investing in the academic futures of these brilliant minds and, by extension, in the future of our continent. Education remains the most powerful tool to uplift our continent, and we are excited to witness this program expanding across Africa,” she said.

The foundation has a long-standing tradition of philanthropy, with numerous initiatives throughout Africa aimed at uplifting the underprivileged, including educational scholarships, healthcare interventions, and poverty alleviation programs.

UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the UBA Group, is dedicated to the socio-economic betterment of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in education, the environment, economic empowerment, and special projects.