Mike Okonkwo writing competition entries open

Over the years, the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for secondary school students has helped in reshaping the thought pattern of students to develop problem-solving skills.

The competition is not only aimed at raising the educational standard but also developing students to think through issues.According to organisers of the competition, the topic for this year’s edition of the competition, which is part of activities to mark the 74th birthday of Dr. Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) is, “Justice as an instrument of enduring peace in nation building.”

Entries for this year’s competition opened on March 18 and would close on June 7.In the competition, which is one of TREM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities aimed at boosting the sector, the star winner’s school gets three sets of desktop computer and a printer, while the student goes home with a trophy, laptop computer, N100, 000.00 cash and a plaque.

The first runner up’s school gets two sets of desktop computer and a printer, while the student goes home with a cash prize of N75, 000.00 with a plaque. The second runner up school gets a desktop computer, while the student gets N50, 000.00 cash prize and a plaque.

For participation, the entry requirements include: an essay of maximum of 2000 words, a passport photograph of the student/ personal details, school name, as well as name and telephone contact of the principal.Essay could be submitted through email to essay@trem.org or by post to The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters, Obanikoro/ Anthony Oke Bus Lagos.The competition spans over a decade of developing and rewarding the writing skills of Nigerian youth towards national development.

The prizes for this year’s competition will be presented to the winners at the 20th Mike Okonkwo annual lecture, which has been scheduled for Thursday, September 5 at the Muson Centre (Shell Hall) by 10.00 am.