A 15-year-old Usongobong Paul, from Akwa-Ibom State, has emerged as the overall winner of the 2022 edition of the UBA Foundation’s annual National Essay Competition.

Usongobong Paul, a student of the Federal Government Girls College Ikot- Obio Itong, Akwa-Ibom, won 11 other finalists to clinch the best prize at the competition.

A statement from the bank said the edition had over 5,000 entries from students of Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.

UBA said the scholarship was worth N5m to study at any African university of her choice and a brand-new state-of-the-art laptop among other goodies at the grand finale held at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre, UBA House in Lagos on Monday.

While expressing her excitement, Usongobong said the experience had helped increase her confidence levels.

She added that “This scholarship will go a long way towards achieving my dream to become an ophthalmologist. The opportunity has changed my life and I appreciate UBA and the UBA Foundation.”

UBA also assured it would support her educational career and beyond with constant mentoring by the UBA Foundation.

The second prize was awarded to Princess Sholabomi, a 15-year-old student of Value Spring College, Lagos.

She won N3m educational grant and a laptop, while the third prize of N2.5m and a brand-new laptop went to 15-year-old Sharon Nwajiaku of Ota Total Academy, Ogun State.

UBA Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who presented the prize said, “As a bank, we are interested in empowering our youth, and to do this, we must educate them and provide them with enabling avenues.