Seven students who emerged winners in the 2025 Mike Okonkwo National Essay competition and their schools were rewarded at the yearly lecture of the cleric, as part of activities to mark the 80th birthday of the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

For coming top at the competition, 15-year-old Davina Phillips of Bloombreeds School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was rewarded with N1million, a laptop, and a plaque, while her school got a set of computers.

Aniki Emmanuella of Babcock High School, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, who emerged first runner-up, received N600,000, a laptop, and a plaque, while her school also received a set of computers.

Maryam Opeyemi Ilyas of Isawo Comprehensive High School, Wisdom Island, Ikorodu, who emerged second-runner up, was rewarded with N400,000, a laptop, and a plaque. Her school also got a computer set.

The remaining finalists also received N50,000 each for their efforts. Speaking on how winners emerged, the Chief Examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, said Phillips moved from fourth position in the first round of the competition to first in the second round. She scored 70 per cent in the first round and 80 per cent in the second to secure the final score of 75 per cent.

Onizi, on her part, scored 75 per cent in the first round, with a final result of 68 per cent, while Ilyas scored 66 per cent in the final round but had 71 per cent in the first round.

Ezeigbo, who commended the students for their efforts, said they demonstrated a clear understanding of the adult-themed issues at hand. She, however, noted that a substantial number revealed evidence of collaboration 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,” she added. She also expressed concern over the use of Artificial Intelligence in the content examined.

Although Ezeigbo noted that the students did well by consulting sources that have become inevitable in knowledge generation and transmission, she, however, noted that teachers have the responsibility to let students know how to use material creatively and intelligently for the purpose of verification and validation.

The competition was launched in 2004 as part of the celebrations commemorating the birthday of the Presiding Bishop of TREM. Beyond the celebration, the competition was established to make a meaningful contribution to the development of the Nigerian educational sector.