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The UBA Foundation has called entries for the 2023 National Essay Competition (NEC) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to further stir interest in the application of emerging technologies among young people.
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The 2023 essay topic is “Will Artificial Intelligence (AI)take over Human Intelligence? What should students do to ensure AI doesn’t override but enhance their ability to learn through research?”
Students at senior secondary level can submit their entries at the UBA Foundation NEC portal https://www.ubagroup.com/national-essay-competition/.
The annual National Essay Competition, now in its 13th year, is part of UBA Foundation’s education initiative aimed at promoting literacy and encouraging healthy and intellectual competition amongst senior secondary school students in Nigeria and across the African continent.
Students are expected to properly research, write, scan and upload their handwritten essays to the digital portal on or before October 20th, 2023.
Prizes for winning entries
The first prize winner will receive an educational grant of N5 million to study at any African university of their choice, whilst the second and third prizes now stand at N3 million and N2.5 million educational grants for any African University.
Also, winners of the 12 best essays, will go home with brand new laptops and other educational tools to help them with their studies and other tertiary research work.
Managing Director/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, said with the digital submission portal, more students in senior secondary schools across the country now have the opportunity to scan and send in their entries and compete to win any of the educational grants for study at any university of their choice on the African continent.
The UBA Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
“We have worked hard to ensure that every Nigerian high school student who wishes to, will be able to enter for the NEC 2023 and stand a chance to win a fully funded University education through the UBA Foundation.,” said Atta.
Adding: “For several years, we have upgraded our processes to ensure that our UBA Foundation programmes continue to impact lives in meaningful ways. We realise that the use of technologically driven initiatives is part of modern day and we would like to reach students in their comfort zones, which is why we encourage students to submit their essays digitally.”
The submissions will be evaluated by judges who are professors from reputable Nigerian universities. The top three winners will be announced at the grand finale to be held in November at UBA’s head office in Lagos, Nigeria.
The NEC has also been launched in other African countries where UBA operates to expand opportunity to more African children.
