Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition Opens for Entries
Lagos, Nigeria – The highly anticipated Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition is now accepting submissions from junior and senior secondary school students across Nigeria. This prestigious annual event, now in its 21st edition, serves as a crucial platform for nurturing critical thinking and analytical skills among the nation’s youth. The submission window is open until Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Participation in the competition is entirely free, encouraging widespread engagement from students nationwide. To enter, participants are required to submit an essay not exceeding 1,200 words on a thought-provoking topic. Alongside their written work, students must provide comprehensive personal details, including their full name, address, telephone number, school name, age, class, and their principal’s telephone number.
Essay Topic: A Deep Dive into Nigeria’s Democratic Landscape
This year’s essay topic, ‘Democracy at the crossroads: Electoral credibility, judicial integrity and the future of Nigeria,’ challenges students to critically examine the current state and future trajectory of Nigeria’s democratic system. Participants are encouraged to offer insightful analysis and well-reasoned perspectives on the interconnectedness of electoral processes, the impartiality of the judiciary, and their collective impact on the nation’s development.
Submission Guidelines and Evaluation Process
Essays are to be submitted in Microsoft Word document format via email to [email protected]. Alternatively, hard copies can be hand-delivered to the TREM International Headquarters located in Gbagada, Lagos.
An independent panel of esteemed scholars has been constituted to meticulously assess all submitted entries. This ensures a fair and objective evaluation process, recognising the most compelling and well-researched essays.
Rewarding Excellence: Prizes and Recognition
The competition offers significant incentives to motivate participants and acknowledge their efforts. Substantial cash prizes and valuable gift items await the top three winners. Furthermore, their respective schools will also receive recognition and rewards.
The overall winner of the Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition will be awarded:
* N800,000 in cash
* A laptop
* A commemorative plaque
The winning school will receive:
* A desktop computer
* A trophy
The first runner-up will receive:
* N500,000 in cash
* A laptop
* A plaque
The school of the first runner-up will receive:
* A desktop computer
The second runner-up will receive:
* N400,000 in cash
* A laptop
* A plaque
The school of the second runner-up will receive:
* A desktop computer
Fostering Education and Social Responsibility
The annual essay competition is a cornerstone of Bishop Mike Okonkwo’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. As the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), he is deeply committed to advancing educational standards and empowering young minds. The competition aims to:
- Cultivate critical thinking and analytical capabilities in students.
- Prepare students for future academic and professional success.
- Contribute to raising the overall standard of education in Nigeria.
The culmination of the competition will see the announcement and rewarding of all winners at a special annual lecture celebrating Bishop Okonkwo’s 81st birthday, scheduled to take place later in the year. This event will serve as a testament to his dedication to education and youth development, celebrating not only the winners but also the spirit of intellectual engagement that the competition fosters. The initiative underscores TREM’s commitment to investing in the future of Nigeria through its youth.
