Entries have opened for the 2026 Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, inviting secondary school students across the country to compete for prizes and cash awards.
According to a statement from The Redeemed Evangelical Mission in Lagos, submissions began on March 16 and will close on June 30.
The topic for this year’s competition is “Democracy at the crossroads: Electoral credibility, judicial integrity and the future of Nigeria.”
Entries are to be sent via email to essay@trem.org, while hard copies can also be submitted at TREM International Headquarters, Anthony Oke Bus Stop, Gbagada, Lagos.
The first-place winner will receive ₦800,000, a laptop, and a plaque, while the winner’s school will be awarded a desktop computer and a plaque. The first runner-up will receive ₦500,000, a laptop, and a plaque, while the second runner-up will get ₦400,000, a laptop, and a plaque. Their schools will also receive desktop computers.
The annual competition aims to promote writing skills, critical thinking, and engagement with national issues among students.
Since its inception in 2004, the initiative has attracted over 20,000 participants and continues to serve as a platform for intellectual discourse.
Founded by Mike Okonkwo, the competition is part of his corporate social responsibility efforts, which also include initiatives through the Empowerment for the Less Privileged Foundation aimed at supporting vulnerable groups through scholarships, vocational training, healthcare outreach, and welfare programmes.
NAN
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