Fifteen-year-Old Davina Phillips of Bloombreeds School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has emerged winner of this year’s Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition for secondary school students in Nigeria.

Aniki Onizi of Babcock High School, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, and Maryam Ilyas of Isawo Comprehensive High School, Wisdom Island, Ikorodu, were first and second runners-up in the keenly contested competition.

The Chief Examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, said Phillips moved from fourth position in the first round to first in the second round. She scored 70 per cent in the first round and 80 per cent in the second to secure 75 per cent average.

Onizi, with a final tally of 68 per cent, scored 75 per cent in the first round, while Ilyas came third with 66 per cent in the final tally but had 71 per cent in the first round.

Ezeigbo said the students demonstrated a clear understanding of the adult-themed issues at hand and consequently responded in writing. She, however, lamented that a substantial number of the students showed evidence of collaboration with peers and copying from the internet, textbooks and other sources.

“It was easy to reach this conclusion because the imprints of sources were uncreatively left behind in the bodies of the essays submitted. “Similarly, we noticed the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the content examined. This showed that our students are doing well by consulting sources that have become inevitable in knowledge generation and transmission,” Ezeigbo stated.

She, however, emphasised the need for teachers to ensure that the materials are used creatively and intelligently for the purpose of verification and validation.

For their exemplary feat, the winner will be rewarded with N1 million and a laptop, while her school will be awarded a set of computers. Onizi, who secured second place, will take home a cheque of N500,000 and a laptop, while her school will receive a set of computers. Ilyas, on her part, will be rewarded with N400,000 and a laptop, while the remaining finalists will each receive a consolation prize of N50,000.

The winners and their schools will be rewarded at the yearly Mike Okonkwo Lecture Series on September 4.The National Essay Competition was launched in 2004 as part of events commemorating the birthday of Okonkwo, who is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

The competition was established to make a meaningful contribution to the development of the country’s education system. For 19 years, Okonkwo has remained committed to this cause, using his abilities, strength, and resources to bless the younger generation in their pursuit of academic excellence.

By encouraging students to develop strong reading and writing habits, the cleric, who believes in the holistic development of humanity, has made significant strides in achieving his vision through the institutionalisation of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition.

The essay competition has sparked a heightened interest in research, extensive reading, and constructive writing among participating students. In addition to rekindling a passion for reading and writing, the competition provides students with a platform to express their views on crucial issues, impacting the socio-economic development of the nation.

It has also played a role in advancing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in secondary schools, particularly within government-owned institutions.