Fourteen year old Odjegba Divine Omesiri has emerged winner of the 2018 UBA National Essay Competition, clinching a laptop and an educational grant worth N2 million to study in any African university of her choice.
At the grand finale which held recently in Lagos, Divine, a student of the International High School, Delta State, beat 11 other finalists selected from over 6,000 entries.
A visibly elated Divine and aspiring Gynaecologist was escorted by her mother, Mrs Odjegba.
“This is something I prayed about and worked hard to achieve. I was in shock to hear my name announced as the winner and my mother and I cried for joy,” she said.
The second prize was bagged by Ozemoka Halimat Emesomi aged 15, of University Preparatory Secondary School, Edo State, who won a N1.5 million educational grant and a laptop, while the third prize of N1m and a laptop went to Adiankpo Ini-Iso Christopher, 16 years old.
Bola Atta, the MD/CEO of UBA Foundation said “Every student who sent in an entry is a winner. To be confident about your writing skills and ambitious enough to enter a competition to further enhance your educational path is laudable,” she said.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Plc Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said, “Seeing past winners tell their stories on the impact the grants have made on their education and particularly how the financial burden was lifted off their parents, gives us joy that our foundation is unique and deeply touching lives,” Uzoka said.
