Entry opens for 2022 Mike Okonkwo essay competition

Secondary school students across the six geopolitical zones of the country will slug it out for prizes as entry opens for the 17th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition.

The 2022 edition themed: “Nigeria a country at war against itself: The problems, solutions and way forward,” will hold between March 14 to May 20, 2022.

The competition, which has attracted thousands of students over the years, has been a platform that helps secondary school students sharpen their writing skills.

The competition is one of Okonkwo’s corporate social responsibility activities aimed at raising the standard in the education sector, while also sensitising students by making them analytically minded, exceling in their world by developing their ability to think through issues.

It also forms part of activities lined up to commemorate the 77th birthday of Okonkwo, who is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

In a statement by the Corporate Services Director, Mrs. Oluwayomi Uteh, the organisers said the entry requirements include an essay of a maximum of 2000 words, a passport photograph, full name, address, contact phone number, class, school name and phone contact of the principal. The essays are to be submitted through email to essay@trem.org.

According to the organisers, apart from the cash prize of N100, 000, N75, 000, and N50, 000 for the first, second, and third prize winners, the winner will get a laptop and plaque, while the school gets three sets of computers.

The second prize winner will also get a plaque, while the school gets two sets of personal computers. The third prize winner’s school will get one set of personal computer.

Prizes for this year’s competition will be presented to winners at the 21st Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, scheduled for Thursday, September 8, at the Muson Centre.