Youngest Champion Ever: 13-Year-Old Ebunoluwa Wins UBA National Essay Competition

Lagos witnessed a historic moment on Tuesday as 13-year-old Ebunoluwa Seth Oluwatimilehin from Igando Community Senior High School, Lagos, was crowned the overall winner of the 15th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, making him the youngest champion in the competition’s 15-year history.

Ebunoluwa, a public school student in SS2, also broke another streak, becoming the first male winner in over eight years in a contest typically dominated by female participants. He secured the grand prize of a ₦10 million educational grant, which he can use to pursue higher education at any African institution of his choice.

Expressing his excitement, Ebunoluwa said, “I am incredibly grateful and overwhelmed. This competition has shown me that passion and hard work truly pay off. It has been an amazing journey that has deepened my love for writing and expressing my ideas.”

The second-place award of a ₦7.5 million educational grant went to Njoku-Kelechi Emerald of Christian International High School, Owerri, while Bayero Fatima Auwal of Cornerstone Montessori Schools, Gudu, Abuja, took home the third-place prize of ₦5 million.

In addition to the cash prizes, all 12 finalists received brand-new laptops and educational materials to support their academic growth.

The 2025 edition of the competition attracted thousands of entries, with strong participation from both urban and rural communities nationwide.

UBA’s Group Managing Director and CEO, Oliver Alawuba, praised the Foundation’s 15-year dedication to the initiative, highlighting its role in fostering a renewed culture of reading and writing among young Nigerians.