Experts harp on competitions in developing intellectual capacity

Experts have recommended educational initiatives that are aimed at promoting the reading culture and encouraging healthy and intellectual competition among students in Nigeria and across Africa.

The development, they said, will move the students to strive for the best by putting more efforts to reach the goal, while in the process, their mental capacity and intellectualism, will be enhanced.

The Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Mrs. Bola Atta, said the move will primarily improve the quality of education across the continent, and a part of giving back to society.

Atta, while unveiling the ninth and 2019 edition of the Foundation’s yearly National Essay Competition in Lagos, recently, with a call for entries, noted that the competition will provide an opportunity for students in secondary schools across the country to put in their entries and win prizes in the form of educational grants to study in any university of their choice in Africa.

She also noted that since last year, the prize money increased significantly, as the Foundation emphasises that education remains one of its key initiatives.

Meanwhile, the first prize for the UBA National Essay Competition is N2million educational grant, while the second and third prizes are N1.5 million and N1million educational grants respectively.

“The competition is a key aspect of our investment drive in human capital, as we seek to improve knowledge-base, allow students to express themselves and write creatively. We will continue to sustain the initiative because education is very important to UBA and we are more than committed to providing the necessary support for students in Nigeria and across the African continent.

“We are driven by the mantra to do well and do good and we will not relent in our efforts to touch lives through our various projects, and initiatives,” she said.

She explained that the choice of essay for this year’s competition, “What do you think the government should do to control fraud in Nigeria?” is one that helps to promote creative and analytical thinking in students and helps them to be problem solvers.

The Group Head, Direct Sales Agency, Ogechi Altraide, who spoke on the benefits of reading and writing essays, also called on students to research into the topics, and give it their best efforts.

She added that there is a need for them to focus on adapting themselves to happenings in their generation and to have a growth mindset, as this will ensure that they apply themselves and conquer whatever challenges they are faced with.

According to her, reading and writing go hand in hand, and important for students to keep abreast of how the economy can develop through reading and writing.

An English Language teacher from Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Mrs. Ezechukwu Ngozi, at the event, gave tips on how to write good essays, and advised students to keep to the proper tenets of essay writing to come out tops in the competition.