Lagos student becomes youngest ever winner of national essay prize

Ebunoluwa Seth Oluwatimilehin, a 13-year-old student of Igando Community Senior High School in Lagos, has become the youngest winner in the 15-year history of a national essay competition.

The winner, an SS2 student from a public school in the Lagos suburb, was announced as the overall winner of the UBA Foundation Essay Competition on Tuesday.

Oluwatimilehin clinched the grand prize of a N10 million educational grant designated for his future studies at any African university.

His win also broke an eight-year streak of female dominance in the competition, making him the first male winner in almost a decade.

An overjoyed Ebunoluwa said, “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 in Owerri, received a N7.5 million grant.

The third-place prize, a N5 million educational grant, was awarded to Bayero Fatima Auwal of Cornerstone Montessori Schools in Gudu, Abuja.

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

The 2025 edition received thousands of entries, with significant participation extending beyond major cities into rural communities.

Oliver Alawuba, the group MD and CEO, commended the commitment to the initiative, explaining its strategic role in reviving a culture of reading and writing among young people.

Alawuba stressed the importance of diversity, stating: “Nobody will ever be judged based on ethnicity, religion, or culture. We see diversity as a strength. In fact, if you get diversity right in Africa, you have gotten the whole world right.”

He praised the finalists for exemplifying this principle in their essays.

Bola Atta, MD and CEO of the foundation, reiterated the pivotal role of education for Africa’s future.

“For 15 years, this initiative has been a cornerstone of our commitment to giving back and empowering the youth,” she said.

“Education remains the most powerful tool to lift our continent, and we are thrilled to see this programme snowballing across Africa.”

The foundation is the UBA’s CSR arm, focusing on development in education, environment, economic empowerment, and special projects.